Myrtle Beach Tops Lynchburg
Published on June 26, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Myrtle Beach defeated Lynchburg 11-1 at City Stadium Friday night. The Hillcats and Pelicans will meet in the finale of the three-game series on Saturday night at Calvin Falwell Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Friday's game had the look of a pitchers' duel in the early innings as both starting pitchers, Lynchburg's Bryan Morris and Myrtle Beach's Jacob Thompson, did not allow a hit through the first two frames.
But the Pelicans' offense came to life in the top of the third. Jon Mark Owings reached on a leadoff walk and was erased on a force out at second off the bat of Chad Lundahl. Lundahl advanced to second on a wild pitch from Morris and scored when C. J. Lee delivered an RBI single to right field. Lee was then caught stealing by Hillcats catcher Kris Watts with Cole Miles at the plate. After Miles hit a two-out single, Freddie Freeman laced an RBI double to right field that gave Myrtle Beach a 2-0 edge.
The Pelicans tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Donell Linares singled leading off the frame and advanced to third base on Benji Johnson's one-out double. Owings ripped a two-run single that plated Linares and Johnson and increased Myrtle Beach's lead to 4-0.
Myrtle Beach broke the game open in the fifth. After retiring Miles on a groundout, Morris issued consecutive walks to Freeman and Jason Heyward. Morris recovered by getting Linares to fly out for the second out of the inning and appeared to be out of trouble when Cody Johnson hit a ground ball to second base.
But Jose De Los Santos committed a fielding error as the ball skipped under his glove, allowing Freeman to score and Heyward to reach third. Benji Johnson belted a two-run double into the right-center field gap, which scored Heyward and Cody Johnson. By the end of the inning, the Pelicans had scored three unearned runs off Morris and held a commanding 7-0 advantage.
While the Pelicans' offense was productive throughout the game, Thompson (1-1) baffled Lynchburg hitters. The Central Virginia native allowed just three hits and tossed seven scoreless innings to earn his first win at the Advanced-A level in his fourth start since being promoted from Low-A Rome earlier this month. Thompson recorded eight strikeouts and walked two batters before exiting the contest.
The Hillcats avoided being shut out for the second straight game with a run in the bottom of the ninth. With one out in the ninth, Myrtle Beach reliever Eric Barrett hit two consecutive batters - Kris Watts and Jamie Romak. Following a strikeout by Alex Presley, Jared Keel ripped an RBI single to left field, which scored Watts and made it an 11-1 game.
Morris (2-2) took the loss for Lynchburg. The Hillcats have now lost four consecutive games for the first time all season. Lynchburg will seek to snap the four-game skid in the series finale. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from June 26, 2009
- Rocks Come From Behind to Earn Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Winston-Salem Evens Series at One Game a Piece - Frederick Keys
- Myrtle Beach Tops Lynchburg - Hill City Howlers
- Nats Let Game Two Slip Away - Potomac Nationals
- Loman Helps Dash Slip Past Keys - Winston-Salem Dash
- Federowicz Shines in Salem Debut as Red Sox Blast Indians Again - Salem RidgeYaks
- Salem Clips Kinston 7-0 - Kinston Indians
- The Pelicans' Starter Allowed Just Three Hits in Seven Shutout Innings - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats vs. Pelicans Tonight - Hill City Howlers
- Espinosa Selected to All Star Futures Game - Potomac Nationals
- Former Hillcats Chosen for Futures Game - Hill City Howlers
- Heyward Named to US Futures Team - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- California League Walks Off With All-Star Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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