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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes

May 14, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans take on the Winston-Salem Dash (a Chicago White Sox affiliate) in the second game of a four-game series with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. This evening, RHP Paul Richan (2-4, 9.25 ERA) makes his seventh start for the Birds against RHP Zach Lewis (2-1, 6.91 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

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BIRDS CRUSH DASH, MORENO STRONG IN SERIES OPENER

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans pummeled the Winston-Salem Dash 11-1 on Monday night from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Erling Moreno (3-4) threw a season-best 7.0 innings, only allowing one run in the win for the Birds and he was backed offensively. Aramis Ademan slammed a solo homer and Kevonte Mitchell bashed a three-run home run. Miguel Amaya, Tyler Payne, Ademan and Mitchell all collected two-hit days and Brian Glowicki threw two scoreless innings out of the backend of the bullpen. It was just the sixth game of the season that the Birds' 'pen did not allow a tally.

OPENING THE WINDOW TO START THE GAME

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 (10 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 Herron 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 .188 (27-for-144).

WALKING TO THE BEACH

The Pelicans have drawn their fair share of walks in 2019. Entering Tuesday's contest against the Dash, the Birds lead the Carolina League with 155 free passes. Miguel Amaya is fourth in the league with 21 walks while Jimmy Herron is tied for fourth in the league with 20 walks. Aramis Ademan places seventh with 19. On the pitching side, the Birds have walked 20 batters over the last eight games.

NOT GOING TO SETTLE THIS SEASON

Over the first 38 games of the season, the Birds have allowed 33 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, 20.3 percent (73-of-359) have been scored in the first inning. There has been at least one first-inning run by either team in 13 of the last 17 games the Pelicans have played. The Birds and their opponents have gone scoreless in the first three innings only twice in the last 22 games and only six times in their first 38 games.

BETTER TO SEE YOU LATE THAN NEVER

Over the last nine contests for the Birds, in which they are 6-4, the starting pitching has been the key. Javier Assad, Alex Lange, Luis Lugo, Erling Moreno and Paul Richan all threw well in their starts. Their starters' ERA of 2.41 (15 ER in 56 IP) has lowered the overall starters' ERA on the season substantially. Entering the Salem series on May 3, the starters' ERA was 7.02. Entering Tuesday's game against Winston-Salem, that ERA has dropped to 5.53. As a whole, the Birds only allowed eight earned runs over their last six wins while surrendering a total of 24 earned runs over their last four losses.

PLEASE DON'T EVER LEAVE

Pelicans starter Javier Assad was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week on Monday. 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. Assad leads all Pelicans starters with a 2.70 ERA and has thrown 14.1 consecutive scoreless innings spanning over his last three starts.

WHEN VISITING MYRTLE BEACH, MAKE SURE TO FLY

Pelicans outfielder Zach Davis has proven to be one of the most lethal base stealers in the Carolina League this season. Though he has only played in 20 games, Davis is tied for second in the league with 11 stolen bags, only trailing Jarren Duran of Salem with 13, who has played in 32 games while being tied with Eric Jenkins of Down East (11 swipes in 34 games) and Cole Freeman of Potomac (11 steals in 35 games). His 0.53 steals per game are by far the best in the league. Last season, Davis led all Cubs minor leaguers with 38 steals.

A VERY FITTING NAME TO BAIT

Tyler Payne has been on fire at the plate for Myrtle Beach. The 26-year-old has reached safely in 19 of his last 20 games (.329/.378/.461) and is currently on a five-game hitting streak. Over that stretch, he is hitting .417/.481/.542 with 3 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 BB and 4 RS. Payne is tied for the team high with eight multi-hit games this season. A season ago for the South Bend Cubs, Payne played in just 13 games before having right hip labrum surgery. He was on crutches for eight week after the surgery.

PELICAN POINTS

Jimmy Herron was off on Monday after failing to pick up one hit over his last four games...After going 4-14 by the end of 2018 against Winston-Salem, the Pelicans' win is a sight for sore eyes on the Grand Strand... Game one, a 10-run win by Myrtle Beach, tied a season high as the largest win by the Birds on the season. The last time was on May 3 against the Salem Red Sox...In stolen bases, nearly every team is below Myrtle Beach. They will eventually steal more than their current 43 swipes.

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