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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: May 17 at Lynchburg

May 17, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans start an 11-game road trip at the Lynchburg Hillcats (a Cleveland Indians affiliate) in the first game of a three-game series with first pitch at 6:00 p.m. This evening, RHP Alexander Vargas (0-0, 3.00 ERA) makes his first start for the Birds against LHP Juan Hillman (1-4, 3.55 ERA). Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

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DASH SHUTOUT BIRDS, SALVAGE GAME IN SERIES

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell in the final game of the series against the Winston-Salem Dash 6-0 on Thursday from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. The Dash jumped out in front early on a solo homer from Nick Madrigal off of Alex Lange (1-6). It was the first home run of Madrigal's minor league career. Winston-Salem then plated three more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth. Jordan Cavanerio (4.0 innings), Wyatt Burns (2.2 and the win), Jose Nin (1.1) and Will Kincanon (1.0) all combined for the shutout. Only Zach Davis and Luke Reynolds collected hits in the loss for the Birds.

START IT OFF THE RIGHT WAY

In the early part of the season, the Pelicans have had a bunch of different players fill the leadoff spot in the order. Zach Davis (13 starts in the leadoff spot), Carlos Sepulveda (4), Yeiler Peguero (3), D.J. Wilson (7), Jimmy Herron (12) and Jhonny Bethencourt (2) have all hit first for the Birds this season. While Davis has the most starts at the top of the order, Bethencourt has the highest batting average (.286) out of that spot. Overall, the leadoff spot has struggled, hitting just .195 (30-for-154).

BETTER GET HERE ON TIME

Over the first 41 games of the season, the Birds have allowed 34 runs in the opening frame. On the offensive side, Myrtle Beach has scored 30 runs in the first inning themselves. Out of the total runs that have been scored in the games the Pelicans have played, 19.8 percent (74-of-373) have been scored in the first inning. There has been at least one first-inning run by either team in 14 of the last 20 games the Pelicans have played. The Birds and their opponents have gone scoreless in the first three innings only three times in the last 25 games and only seven times in their first 41 games.

BETTER KEEP THOSE ARMS WARM

There is no doubt that the pitching staff has helped to keep the Birds alive this season. When a Myrtle Beach starter has gone at least five innings, the Birds are 13-11. When the Pelicans receive a quality start, they are a strong 7-1. While the bullpen has struggled at times this season - they have allowed at least one run in 33 of the 41 games this year - when they do not cede a tally, the Pelicans are 7-1.

DIDN'T WE SEE HIM ON SPORTSCENTER?

Pelicans starter Javier Assad was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week on Monday and followed it up with an even better performance on Wednesday. Assad made one start in the week, earning a no-decision at Down East with six shutout, one-hit innings. After allowing a base hit to lead off the game from Yonny Hernandez, he only walked two batters the rest of the way. On Wednesday against Winston-Salem, he tied a career high with seven innings, facing the minimum while striking out nine, walking one and only allowing an infield single. Assad leads all Pelicans starters and is fourth in the league with a 2.19 ERA. He has thrown 21.1 consecutive scoreless innings spanning over his last four starts.

BACK TO THE HILL CITY

The Pelicans are 4-4 in their first eight games this season against the Lynchburg Hillcats, but they have been a different team against Lynchburg at home as opposed to on the road. At home, the Birds went 1-3 in the season-opening series while they went 3-1 against Lynchburg in their four-game set from April 18-21. Outside a pair of tough starts from Alex Lange, the staff shinned against the Indians affiliate. Removing Lange's 10 ER over 7.1 IP, the Birds' arms have combined for a 2.72 ERA (18 ER in 59.2 IP) in the eight games. Myrtle Beach has flexed its muscles against Lynchburg as well, having hit six home runs, including two from Miguel Amaya, against the Hillcats.

NEW MONTH, NEW ME

After a tough month of April in which the Pelicans set a franchise low for winning percentage in a single month (7-19, .269) in recorded franchise history (back to 2005), the Birds have turned things around in May. Entering their series against the Hillcats on Friday, the Birds are hitting. .232/.335/.325 in May and have a 3.62 ERA while owning a 8-7 record. In April, the Pelicans had a .212/.306/.326 slashline and a 5.29 ERA. In 2018, after a 9-15 April, Myrtle Beach rebounded to go 15-14 the next month.

CAMARGO CARRYING THE CARGO

Myrtle Beach reliever Jesus Camargo has been pitching well all season for the Birds. Only Ryan Kellogg has a better ERA out of the bullpen than Camargo's 2.52 mark. Following his 2.1 scoreless innings on Thursday, opponents are just hitting .172 off of the righty. Over his last eight outings, he has a 1.62 ERA (3 ER in 16.2 IP). Over that span, he has ceded just nine hits, whiffed 14 and walked nine.

PELICAN POINTS

The Pelicans start an 11-game road trip on Friday. It ties the final road trip of the season for the longest one on the season. In May, 17 of the Birds' 26 games are away from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

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