CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, June 8 vs. Salem

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


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans return home to play a three-game series with the Salem Red Sox beginning with Friday's 7:05 p.m. contest. RHP Keegan Thompson (3-3, 3.35 ERA) goes for the Birds against RHP Roniel Raudes (2-5, 3.96 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

MONASTERIO, ADEMAN POWER BIRDS TO SWEEP

Both Andruw Monasterio and Aramis Ademan blasted home runs Thursday to lead the Pelicans to a 4-2 win and series sweep over Buies Creek. The Birds took the early lead on Wladimir Galindo's RBI single in the first inning. In the third, Monasterio popped a solo homer to left to make it 2-0. However, Buies Creek tied in the fourth on Abraham Toro's two-run shot. The Pelicans took the lead in the fifth on Ademan's homer and P.J. Higgins' RBI double to make it 4-2. Cory Abbott struck out eight and yielded just two runs in six innings to earn the win in his High-A debut. Ryan Kellogg pitched three scoreless frames for the save.

SOME SERIES' OF FORTUNATE EVENTS

Myrtle Beach swept Buies Creek with Thursday's 4-2 win, earning back-to-back broomings for the first time since sweeping both Carolina and Wilmington on the road from August 23-28, 2016. The Pelicans have now taken five straight sets for the first time since May 31-June 18 of last season after totaling three series wins all year until this run. The Birds have dropped their divisional deficit to just 2.5 games, the closest the club has been to first place since they were two out on April 8, the fourth day of the season.

#WEAREGOOD

The Pelicans have rattled off six straight wins and 12 of 14 entering play Friday. The Birds have outscored their opponents 58-27 over this 14-game stretch, and since this run began on May 23, the 27 runs the Birds have allowed are the fewest in all of full-season Minor League Baseball. In fact, the next closest team is Bowling Green (Low-A, Rays), which has surrendered 37 tallies. The Pelicans' 1.55 ERA during this stretch is nearly a half-run better than that of the second-place Hot Rods (2.02). The Birds have not given up more than four runs in a game since May 22.

DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS

Over the first 28 games of the season, Myrtle Beach's defense struggled, turning just 63.9 percent of balls put into play by opponents into outs. However, in the Pelicans' last 31 games, the club has posted a defensive efficiency of 73.3 percent (982 AB, 242 K, 213 H, 19 HR, 6 SF). To put that in perspective, the Cubs lead Major League Baseball this season in defensive efficiency at 73.7 percent.

WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE

On April 19, Myrtle Beach entered play with a woeful 5.85 ERA that ranked dead last in the Carolina League. The Birds had surrendered 93 runs (6.6 per game) through the first 14 contests of the season to that point. Since then, the Pelicans, who were 3-11 (.214) to start 2018, have gone 27-18 (.600) mainly behind their pitching. In their last 45 games, Myrtle Beach has yielded just 166 runs (3.7 per game). The Pelicans' 3.11 ERA during this stretch leads the Carolina League while placing eighth throughout Minor League Baseball. Meanwhile, the Birds have allowed just 307 hits (T-fifth fewest in MiLB) and walked 120 batters (T-23rd fewest in MiLB) since April 19, helping Myrtle Beach to a WHIP of 1.163, the third-best in the minor leagues.

LET'S JUST NOT ALLOW RUNS

Over the last 14 games, Myrtle Beach has seen their starting pitching catch fire, with the club's rotation ceding just 14 runs, 12 earned, on 77 hits in 82.0 innings for a 1.32 ERA. Pelicans starters have whiffed 73 while walking only 18 during this stretch. Meanwhile the Birds' bullpen has been thriving for even longer. Over the past 37 contests dating back to April 28, Pelicans relievers have posted 2.15 ERA thanks to 42 runs, 30 earned, on 100 hits (7.2 H/9) in 125.1 innings. Myrtle Beach's relief pitchers have also whiffed 124 (8.9 K/9) over this span.

BETTER TO BE LUCKY THAN GOOD?

At 30-29, Myrtle Beach has pushed their record over .500 for the first time all season. However, the club's Pythagorean record, often a better indicator of team quality because of its basis on how many runs the Birds have scored and allowed, is three games worse at 27-32. The Pelicans' success in close games can partially explain this discrepancy between the club's actual record and their Pythagorean record. Myrtle Beach has posted the Carolina League's best record in one-run games at 8-3. The Pelicans are also 20-15 in contests decided by three runs or less, normally games clubs expect to go about .500 in.

PELICAN POINTS

Wladimir Galindo has recorded multiple hits in five of his last nine games, batting 12-for-33 (.364/.488/.606) with five doubles, one homer, 10 RBIs, eight walks and one HBP.

Check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from June 8, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central