Ortegano's Gem Paces Pelicans

Published on June 15, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Pelicans Venezuelan left-hander Jose Ortegano went to the bullpen and found what he was looking for midway through the 2009 season.

In his second straight start after an extended stay in the Myrtle Beach bullpen, Ortegano (3-5) dazzled over seven and a third innings, facing the minimum through seven as the Pelicans beat the Lynchburg Hillcats 2-1 in front of 3,453 at BB&T Coastal Field.

While Ortegano was the story, the Pelicans got him offensive support early. Myrtle Beach found holes all night, pounding out 11 hits against Lynchburg pitching, but only brought two around to score. C.J. Lee doubled with one out in the third, and Michael Fisher singled one out later. Freddie Freeman scored Lee with a single, and Donell Linares plated Fisher with the same. Lynchburg's Matt McSwain (6-2) was charged with both runs and struck out three while walking one.

Ortegano would make the two runs stand. The southpaw did not allow multiple runners on at the same time until the eighth. Kent Sakamoto reached for the first two times any Hillcat got on base, singling to lead off the second and walking to lead off the eighth. He was erased in the second on a Pelicans appeal after running past second base on Kris Watts's flyout to left field and not tagging the bag on his way back to first. However, it was in the eighth when Ortegano worked the Pelicans into their only jam of the night, loading the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a single before giving way to Tommy Palica. After issuing a bases-loaded walk to Ray Chang, scoring Sakamoto from third, Palica slammed the door, retiring Maiko Loyola on a pop-up on the infield and Jose De Los Santos on a line drive to right-center.

Palica (S, 4) turned away the Hillcats in order in the ninth, closing out the shortest Pelicans home game of the season at two hours and seven minutes. For the Hillcats, the loss was just their second of the season in 20 series openers and their first in 11 such games on the road.

Carolina League Stories from June 15, 2009

• Pelicans pitching shuts down Lynchburg - Hill City Howlers
• Peacock's Pinch-Hit Three-Bagger Propels P-Nats - Potomac Nationals
• Kelly earns first Advanced-A win - Salem RidgeYaks
• Salem routs K-Tribe, 8-1 - Kinston Indians
• Ortegano's Gem Paces Pelicans - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Keys lock door on Dash title with shutout - Winston-Salem Dash
• Blue Rocks Will Attempt To Set World Record On June 19 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Santiago Named Carolina Pitcher of the Week - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Tribe Talk - Kinston Indians
• First Half's Final Homestand Begins Monday - Potomac Nationals
• Walk Like MADD With the Potomac Nationals - Potomac Nationals
• Matusz Promoted to Double-A Bowie - Frederick Keys
• Hillcats at Pelicans Tonight - Hill City Howlers
• Angle is the Carolina League Player of the Week - Frederick Keys
• Blue Crew Blanks Dash In Rubber Match, 4-0 - Wilmington Blue Rocks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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