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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: May 19 at Lynchburg

May 19, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans are back on the road at the Lynchburg Hillcats (a Cleveland Indians affiliate) in the finale of a three-game series with first pitch at 3:00 p.m. This evening, LHP Luis Lugo (1-1, 3.68 ERA) starts for the Birds against RHP Justin Garza (3-3, 5.09 ERA). Coverage begins at 2:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

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BATS REMAIN COLD IN LOSS TO LYNCHBURG

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell 6-1 on Saturday to the Lynchburg Hillcats from City Stadium. After the Pelicans struck first in the second inning on an RBI double from Aramis Ademan, Lynchburg came back with two runs in the home half of the second to take the lead. The Hillcats then put up a single run in the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings. The loss marked the third-straight defeat for Myrtle Beach.

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 (15 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 .198 (32-for-162).

BETTER GET HERE ON TIME

Over the first 42 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, 19.3 percent (74-of-382) have been scored in the first inning. There has been at least one first-inning run by either team in 14 of the last 22 games the Pelicans have played. The Birds and their opponents have gone scoreless in the first three innings only four times in the last 27 games and only eight times in their first 43 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 13-12. 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 35 of the 43 games this year - when they do not cede a tally, the Pelicans are 7-1.

BROKEN BATS

The Pelicans have struggled on the offensive side over the last four games. During that stretch, Myrtle Beach has just managed two run over 35 innings and are hitting just .175/.277/.219. During that span, the Birds are 1-3 and have dropped to ninth in the league in runs scored. The Pelicans now average 3.6 runs per game. On the positive side, the Pelicans pitching staff has helped to keep the games close, owning a 3.71 ERA over the last four games.

BACK TO THE HILL CITY

The Pelicans are 4-6 in their first 10 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 3.13 ERA (26 ER in 74.2 IP) in the 10 games. Myrtle Beach has flexed its muscles against Lynchburg as well, having hit six home runs, including two from Miguel Amaya, against the Hillcats.

BRINGING THE PAYNE

Tyler Payne has been on fire at the plate all season long for Myrtle Beach. On Saturday, he went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, giving him nine on the season to tie Jimmy Herron for the team high this year. Payne has reached safely in 22 of his last 24 games, hitting .319/.392/.451. Payne is leads the Pelicans or is tied for the team lead in batting average (.306), hits (30) and doubles (nine). After playing in just 13 games in 2018 due to a hip injury, Payne has played 28 games in 2019 entering Sunday's contest at Lynchburg.

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.

STREAKY PLAY

The Pelicans have been a streaky team this season. After losing eight-straight games from April 25-May 2, they won five in a row from May 3-May 8. Immediately following that, Myrtle Beach fell in four in a row from May 9-12 and then won three straight from May 13-15. From May 16-18, the Pelicans are on another losing streak, having lost three consecutive entering Sunday.

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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