CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: July 30 vs. Frederick

Published on July 30, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans start a three-game set against the Frederick Keys (a Baltimore Orioles affiliate) with the first game beginning at 7:05 p.m. This evening, LHP Jack Patterson (3-2, 3.11 ERA) starts for the Birds against LHP Cameron Bishop (0-8, 4.93 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

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BIRDS SALVAGE GAME IN SALEM BEHIND POWER

Wladimir Galindo and Tyler Payne smashed homers and Erich Uelmen was strong in the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 6-4 win over the Salem Red Sox from Haley Toyota Field on Sunday afternoon. After the teams traded runs in the first inning to make it 1-1, Galindo crushed a three-run home run to give Myrtle Beach a 4-1 advantage in the fourth inning. Payne added on with a two-run blast in the sixth and, even though the Red Sox scored the last three runs over the game, the Birds were able to hang on. Uelmen tied a career high with seven innings, allowing two runs while striking out five and not walking a batter. Manny Rodriguez threw a scoreless frame in relief.

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES

The Pelicans have seen a lot of first-inning scoring over their last few games. There has been a first-inning run by the Birds or their opponent in seven of their last 10 games, for a total of 15 runs. Out of those 15 runs, 10 came over the last three games in Salem. Myrtle Beach scored four first-inning tallies in the three game series and Salem put up six. Over 105 games, the Birds have scored 50 runs in the first inning and allowed 73 (a combined total of 1.2 first inning runs per game). The second inning of Pelicans games has seen 188 runs, the most of any inning, followed by 123 in the first inning.

JACK OF ONE TRADE, BUT HE'S PRETTY GOOD AT IT

Today's starter, Jack Patterson, has been brilliant on the hill for Cubs system this season. Overall, counting his time in Low-A South Bend and Myrtle Beach, he is 7-1 with a 1.62 ERA over 20 appearances, five starts. In 61.0 innings, he has held opponents to a .167 batting average. Patterson has not allowed an earned run since June 12, spanning 29 innings between Myrtle Beach and South Bend. The lefty was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Month for the Cubs in June and he has a good shot at the award in July, having gone 2-0 in four starts with a 0.00 ERA over 18.2 innings while only allowing six hits (.100 batting average against) and striking out 15 to seven walks.

LET'S CHECK IN ON THAT IMPROVEMENT

After a tough first half in which the Pelicans finished a franchise-worst 21-46, the Pelicans have turned things around in the second half of the season. In the first half offensively, the Pelicans were ninth out of 10 teams in the Carolina League in batting average (.220), runs per game (3.6), and OPS (.635) while placing eighth in home runs (33). In the second half, the Birds are tied for seventh in average (.238), tied for second in runs per game (4.1), sixth in OPS (.683) and tied for second in home runs (25). From the mound, in the first half, Myrtle Beach was eighth in ERA (4.49) and WHIP (1.42) while, in the second half, they are fifth in ERA (3.52) and third in WHIP (1.20).

I CAN GRANT YOU THREE WISHES...

Grant Fennell became the first Pelican this season to collect multiple hits in four-straight games, doing so from July 17-21. In addition to that, has been hot, batting .421 (16-for-38)/.476/.526 with four doubles, seven RBIs, four walks and seven runs scored over his last 11 games. Over that span, he raised his average from .215 to .250 and his OPS from .622 to .686. The former undrafted free agent is hitting .320/.393/.440 after the All-Star Break and has crushed the ball away from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark to the tune of a .855 OPS as opposed to a .503 OPS at home. That home OPS includes going 5-for-11 on the most recent homestand.

SEPULVEDA AMONG THE ELITE

Pelicans second baseman Carlos Sepulveda has been one of the best defensive players in the Carolina League this season. Over 291 total chances, Sepulveda has just committed one error. Among Carolina Leaguers in any position who have played at least 60 games, Sepulveda's .997 fielding percentage leads the league. He is one of two everyday second basemen in Minor League Baseball to have committed just one error and he leads all Carolina League second basemen with 48 double plays turned. The 22-year-old missed part of 2017 and all of the 2018 season with a shoulder injury before returning to the diamond in 2019.

WOULD YOU PLEASE LEGGO MY BALEGO

Cam Balego has been a hot hitter for the Pelicans in the second half of the season. Since the break, he is hitting .284 with an .865 OPS in 34 games, but his most impressive stats have come over his last 18 games. During that stretch, he is hitting .302/.500/.453 with two doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and 11 runs scored. The third baseman has walked 19 times and struck out just eight times in those 18 contests. He only has six strikeouts over his last 16 games as well and has walked multiple times in six different games.

PELICAN POINTS

Former Pelican Thomas Hatch (2017) was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays from the Cubs for RHP David Phelps on Tuesday...The Pelicans added OF D.J. Artis and C Eric Gonzalez from South Bend on Tuesday while C Tyler Payne and RHP Erich Uelmen were sent to Double-A Tennessee.

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Carolina League Stories from July 30, 2019


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