Nationals Beat Birds Behind Early Homers
August 26, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - After a series opener in which the Pelicans scored five and picked up a victory, the Potomac Nationals have showcased the reasons behind their second-half resurgence: pitching and defense, the hallmarks of good baseball.
Potomac held Myrtle Beach's offense down for the second straight game, and the Nationals scored in four separate innings en route to a 4-3 win over the Pelicans in front of 2,071 at BB&T Coastal Field.
Against Pelicans starter Erik Cordier, the Nationals got on the board with solo homers by Danny Espinosa and Brian Peacock in the first and second innings. Potomac got another in the third with Boomer Whiting walking to leadoff the frame, eventually scoring on an RBI safety squeeze off the bat of Danny Espinosa. Cordier (6-7) dropped under the .500 mark, charged with another unearned run in the sixth. The right-hander allowed four total runs-three earned-on four hits over five and a third.
For the second straight night, the Pelicans struggled against Potomac's starter. On Wednesday, it was Will Atwood who allowed two runs over seven and a third. Myrtle Beach got a leadoff solo home run from C.J. Lee in the bottom of the sixth as just its second hit of the game to that point. The Pelicans went hitless the first time through the order before Cole Miles singled leading off the fourth. Myrtle Beach did not get a baserunner to scoring position until the eighth when Randy Gress doubled with one out and scored two batters later on a Miles sacrifice fly. Atwood (8-7) struck out five against two walks on the night.
Donell Linares doubled to lead off the Myrtle Beach ninth, coming around to score two batters later on a Gerry Rodriguez sacrifice fly to cut the Birds' deficit to 4-3. That's as close as the Pelicans would get, however, with Cole Kimball (8) pitching the ninth for the save.
The Pelicans will try to salvage the series finale and a series split on the final Thirsty Thursday of the 2009 season tomorrow evening. The Nationals have yet to announce a starter to oppose Myrtle Beach's Richard Sullivan (2-11, 4.22) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Tickets are available through the Pelicans box office at BB&T Coastal Field, by phone at (843)918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.
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