CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes

Published on April 14, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans take on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (affiliate of the Houston Astros) with first pitch at 6:05 p.m. In the finale of the four-game set, RHP Erling Moreno (0-1, 29.70 ERA) makes his second start for the Birds against RHP Cristian Javier (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

In addition, the Pelicans transform into "Los Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach" today as part of the "Copa de la Diversion" initiative by Minor League Baseball. The "Los Pelícanos" moniker and a day of Latin celebration will help to propel the franchise into the future through authentic engagement with its Latin community.

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LATE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN LOSS TO WOODPECKERS

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scored four in the bottom of the ninth inning, but ultimately fell to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 6-4 on Saturday evening from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Carlos Sepulveda singled home Jimmy Herron to start the scoring in the ninth with two outs. A couple batters later, Luke Reynolds doubled home two runs and Kevonte Mitchell reached on an error to plate Reynolds and make it 6-4. The Pelicans were one-hit through 8.2 innings before the ninth.

GOLDEN GLOVES ON THE GRAND STRAND

After committing five errors in their first two games, the Pelicans have only chalked up two errors over their last eight games. The Birds' .980 fielding percentage is second in the league (behind Down East's .989). In 2018, the Pelicans finished last in the league in fielding percentage (.969). Since the Pelicans finished the 2015 season - the club's first season as a Cubs affiliate - at the top of the league in fielding, they have finished fourth, seventh and last over the prior three seasons in the category.

THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER, BUT SO IS FIVE

Going five innings seems to be the key for Pelicans starters in the beginning of the season. In the first nine games, the Birds starter has finished the fifth inning five times. In those starts, they own a 2.52 ERA (7 ER over 25 IP). In the other four starts that have not reached the end of the fifth, the Birds' ERA is 12.06 (21 ER over 15.2 IP). Paul Richan (1), Bryan Hudson (2), Luis Lugo (1) and today's starter Javier Assad (1) have made the five five-inning starts.

MORENO LOOKING FOR A BOUNCE-BACK START

The right hander had a tough start his first time on the mound for the Pelicans. On April 8 in Down East, he allowed 11 runs on 10 hits (both career highs) over 3.1 innings. An extreme groundball pitcher, Moreno was fourth in the Midwest League last year with a 58.0 percent groundball rate among pitches who threw at least 60 innings. His 28.3 percent fly ball rate was the 11th-lowest mark in the league. Over his 67.2 innings, he only allowed one home run last season, but yielded a leadoff homer to Erick Jenkins of Down East in his first start with the Pelicans.

BRINGING UP THE BACK END

In the Pelicans' two wins this season, the Birds' bullpen has not surrendered a run. On Friday, Tyler Peyton was strong through three scoreless innings in relief and Ben Hecht tossed a runless ninth inning as well. When the bullpen allows a run, the Birds are 0-8 this season. Overall, the 'pen owns a 1-3 record and a 4.86 ERA.

I WALK IT OUT, I WALK IT OUT

The Pelicans walked a season-best 11 times in Friday's game against Fayetteville and added eight more on Saturday. Friday's game marked most walks the Pelicans had drawn since May 13, 2018 against the Buies Creek Astros when they coaxed 12 free passes. In two days, the Pelicans jumped from eighth in the league in walks to tied for third. Walks have been an issue for the Woodpeckers this season; their 61 walks through 10 games are tied with the Frederick Keys to pace the circuit.

BATS STILL WARMING UP

Through the first nine games of the season, the Pelicans have only scored 30 runs (3.0/game). The Birds currently last in the Carolina League in batting average (.175), SLG (.234) and OPS (.518) and ninth in OBP (.284). Miguel Amaya, Kevonte Mitchell and Aramis Ademan are the only three Birds to send a ball over the fence in the first nine games. On the current pace in the small sample size, the Pelicans are projected to hit 126 doubles, 42 homers and score 420 runs. All would be franchise lows.

SUPER SEPULVEDA

The Pelicans second baseman, Carlos Sepulveda, has been on a tear lately. He is currently on a five-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with 3 BB, 2 RBIs and 2 RS. Sepulveda missed the entirety of the 2018 season with a right shoulder injury, but played in 28 games with the Pelicans in 2017, hitting .196/.272/.214 (2 2B and 7 RBI).

PELICAN POINTS

The Pelicans' -27 run differential (30 runs scored, 57 runs allowed) is the worst in Minor League Baseball. For reference, the Colorado Rockies (-36) lead Major League Baseball with the worst run differential in all of baseball. The Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics) have scored 37 more runs than they have allowed, which paces the minors and the majors.

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Carolina League Stories from April 14, 2019


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