CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, August 8 at Winston-Salem

Published on August 8, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans try to salvage their three-game series with Wednesday's 7 p.m. contest at the Winston-Salem Dash. RHP Erick Leal (1-1, 1.10 ERA) starts for the Birds against Winston-Salem RHP Blake Battenfield (4-2, 4.27 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

LATE COMEBACK ATTEMPT COMES UP SHORT

The Pelicans plated two runs in the eighth Tuesday, but Myrtle Beach could not get any closer in a 3-2 loss to the Winston-Salem Dash from BB&T Ballpark. The Dash opened up the scoring with Luis Gonzalez's two-run home run in the second inning. Yermin Mercedes added an RBI single in the fourth to widen the margin to 3-0. The score remained that way until the eighth inning. Tyler Alamo registered a sacrifice fly to get the Birds on the board. Roberto Caro scored later in the frame on a Winston-Salem error. However, Hunter Schryver pitched a perfect ninth to seal the save for the Dash. Winston-Salem starter Kyle Kubat ceded just two hits in 7.0 shutout innings to earn the win. Jared Young recorded a pair of hits in the loss.

DOESN'T EVEN NEED A BURNER ACCOUNT

The Chicago Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July, Erick Leal yielded just two unearned runs on eight hits in seven appearances covering 22.2 frames during the month. He struck out 25 against one walk. Over his last eight games, which includes his August 2 start against Down East, Leal has pitched to a 0.98 ERA (27.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 30 K). Among Carolina League pitchers with a minimum of 40.0 innings this season, Leal leads the circuit in ERA (1.10) and ranks fifth in FIP (2.40). His 4.5 percent walk rate places seventh and his 21.2 K-BB percentage is ninth. Interestingly enough, the Valencia, Venezuela native owns the third-highest fly ball rate (53.7 percent) in the league. He boasts the second-lowest line drive rate (8.3 percent).

RANDOM PEOPLE YELLING

After a six-game winning streak from July 10-16, Myrtle Beach has struggled, losing 16 of their last 20 contests. Over that span, the Pelicans have been outscored 88-49, yielding at least four runs in 13 of those 20 games. For perspective, the Birds had surrendered at least four runs in just four of their previous 17 contests. Myrtle Beach has also scored at least four runs in just five of these last 20 games. The Pelicans have lost seven consecutive contests for the first time since an eight-game skid from May 25-31, 2013. In addition, if Winston-Salem executes a sweep of the Birds in Wednesday's series finale, it will be the first instance in recorded club history (through the 2005 season) that Myrtle Beach has suffered eight broomings in one campaign.

WE'LL BE BACK IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS

In their recorded history, which dates through the 2005 season, Myrtle Beach had never been swept by a club three times in one season. However, in a dysmal 2018 campaign, the Pelicans have encountered several lows. If the Dash take Wednesday's series finale, it will be Winston-Salem's fourth sweep of Myrtle Beach this season. The Birds are just 2-12 against the Dash, their worst record against any club in a single season since at least 2005.

COULD HAVE WON ON THE NEXT TURN

Over the Myrtle Beach's last 15 contests, 13 have been decided by three runs or less, including a remarkable 10 by just one tally. On the season, Myrtle Beach has played 72 games decided by no more than three runs, tied for the second-highest total in the Carolina League. The Pelicans are 35-37 in those engagements.

ROOKIE SENSATION

In the first four games with Myrtle Beach, Jared Young went just 2-for-15 (.133) with an RBI and three walks. However, the Prince George, British Columbia native seems to be starting to figure out the High-A level. Over the last 23 games, he is batting 26-for-82 with two doubles, four home runs, and 13 RBIs to slash .317/.378/.488.

SMOOTH GREENS

From July 24 through August 1, Myrtle Beach made at least one error in a season-high nine consecutive games, compiling a total 17 miscues during that stretch. The Birds have responded by playing error-free baseball in five of their last six contests, including a season-best five-game errorless streak from August 2-6. The Pelicans have made just one miscue in their last 47 innings.

PELICAN POINTS

Jhonny Pereda has reached base in 24 of his last 27 games, accumulating a batting line of .286/.359/.371 during that nice stretch. He has driven in 11 runs with 12 walks... In each of the last six outings, Myrtle Beach starters have yielded no more than three runs. The club's starting pitching is working to a 4.06 ERA during this span (14 ER in 31.0 IP)...Since July 19, Andruw Monasterio is hitting .362. The smart infielder has a .448 on-base percentage as well.

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