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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, July 11 vs. Carolina

July 11, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans host the Carolina Mudcats in Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. contest from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Rollie Lacy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his High-A debut against Carolina RHP Devin Williams (0-2, 5.14 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

HIGGINS SPURS PELICANS TO 11-3 WIN

P.J. Higgins notched four hits, including a three-run home run, Tuesday to propel the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to an 11-3 victory over the Carolina Mudcats. After the Muddies scored in the top of the second, the Birds responded with four in the bottom of the second on Roberto Caro's two-run two-bagger, D.J. Wilson's RBI double and Andruw Monasterio's RBI single. The Mudcats scored a run in the third and then another in the sixth to cut the Myrtle Beach lead to 4-3. However, Kevonte Mitchell bashed a leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame. Jhonny Pereda added a two-run double later in the inning before Higgins crushed his three-run homer to make it 10-3. Wilson registered an RBI single in the second to put the margin at 11-3. Erich Uelmen pitched five strong innings to earn the win.

THE CHICKS DIG IT

Both P.J. Higgins and Kevonte Mitchell launched home runs in the sixth inning of Tuesday's 11-3 win over Carolina. The offensive barrage in that six-run sixth inning - which matched the biggest frame of the year for Myrtle Beach - also marked just the second time all season that the Birds had bashed two homers in an inning. It was also the first time since June 7 that the Pelicans smashed two dingers in one game. The 11 runs Myrtle Beach compiled on Tuesday was the club's most since plating 14 on April 14 at Down East.

ROLLIE POLLIE OLIE

Myrtle Beach right-hander Rollie Lacy will make his High-A debut with Wednesday's start against Carolina. At the time of his promotion from Low-A South Bend, Lacy was leading the Midwest League in both ERA (2.02) and batting average against (.203) while posting the circuit's second-best WHIP (1.04). The Minnetrista, Minn., native also ranked third in FIP (2.93) due to a 28.6 percent strikeout rate that and 16.0 percent swinging-strike rate that placed first and second in the league, respectively. When opponents did put the ball in play, no pitcher in the Midwest League recorded a higher ground ball rate than Lacy's 62.1 percent, with just one other hurler compiling a rate above 50 percent. Not coincidentally, the former Creighton Bluejay's 21.3 percent fly ball rate was the lowest in the circuit, with no other pitcher totaling a mark lower than 32.2 percent.

HOW THE TURNTABLES... HAVE TURNED

Erich Uelmen tossed five innings of two-run ball in Tuesday's 11-3 victory over Carolina, continuing a sudden trend of strong starting pitching for Myrtle Beach. Over the last 12 games, Pelicans starters have worked 59.1 innings, yielding only 16 runs, all earned, on 43 hits (6.5 H/9) for a 2.43 ERA. The Birds' starting staff has compiled 50 strikeouts against 24 walks over this span. In the seven games prior to this run, Myrtle Beach starters had posted an ugly 7.62 ERA thanks to 27 runs, 24 earned, on 39 hits (12.4 H/9) in 28.1 innings (30 K, 13 BB).

BIRDS ON THE POND

Myrtle Beach had gone just 5-for-31 (.161) with runners in scoring position to strand a combined 26 runners on Sunday and Monday, but the Pelicans rebounded nicely Tuesday in their 11-3 romp. The Birds were 6-for-14 (.429) with men on second and/or third, continuing to pad their numbers in their best hitting situation on the season. Myrtle Beach is batting .250/.328/.347 (.675 OPS) with runners in scoring position this year, which, while not overly impressive, is far better than their line of .231/.307/.326 (.633 OPS) in all other situations. The good news, or potentially bad news, for the Pelicans is that nearly every team at every level in the history of baseball posts similar batting lines regardless of situation.

CONNECT FOUR

Thanks to a staff that ranks at or near the top of the Carolina League in nearly every single pitching category, the Pelicans do not necessarily need to score a plethora of runs to win games. Sure enough, when Myrtle Beach plates at least four tallies in a game, the Birds have a 32-9 (.780) record. This success has been exemplified of late; In the 65 games since May 11, the Pelicans have pitched well, posting a collective 3.42 ERA (473.1 IP, 397 H, 7.5 H/9, 210 R, 180 ER). Myrtle Beach has scored at least four runs in 24 of those contests, and the Birds are 22-2 (.917) in those games.

PELICAN POINTS

Following Tuesday's game, P.J. Higgins was promoted to Double-A Tennessee. Higgins went 15-for-29 (.517/.548/.724) with three doubles, a home run, eight RBIs and two walks in his last seven contests with the Birds.

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