CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans And P-Nats Split Twinbill

Published on August 8, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC- With the Pelicans still fighting for a playoff spot going into their doubleheader against the first-place Potomac Nationals, the team had themselves a golden opportunity to gain some ground in the Southern Division standings. In game one, the Pelicans rode starter Zeke Spruill to a comfortable 6-1 victory before dropping the second game of the double dip in a heartbreaker by the score of 4-3.

Game one was all about Pelicans starter Zeke Spruill, who tossed the Pelicans' second complete game of the season, allowing just one earned run in seven innings to earn his second win of the year. Spruill's lone blemish on the evening was a Bill Rhinehart solo home run leading off the top of the fifth inning. Other than that, Spruill was masterful. After surrendering a pair of two-out hits in the first inning, Spruill allowed just three baserunners the rest of the way. Spruill struck out a season high five without walking a batter to earn his second win.

The big right-hander was given all the support he would need in the bottom of the first inning when three unearned runs came across against Nationals starter Jason Jones. After Mycal Jones reached on an error by shortstop Jose Lozada, the shortstop came around to score on a Dan Nelson RBI groundout to give the Birds an early lead. With two down in the frame, back to back singles from Gerry Rodriguez and Samuel Sime brought home two more to give the Birds a 3-0 advantage.

Rodriguez added another RBI single in the fifth and back to back base hits from Jones and Cory Harrilchak in the sixth finished the scoring for the Pelicans as the team cruised to a 6-1 victory.

In game two, Cory Rasmus and Trevor Holder dueled early on with Rasmus allowing a single run on a Tyler Moore sacrifice fly to give the visiting P-Nats a 1-0 lead.

The Pelicans knotted the game at one apiece in the bottom of the third frame when Shawn McGill beat out a double play ground ball, scoring Luis Sumoza from third. The Birds took the lead in the fifth on consecutive singles from Dan Nelson and Mike Jones off reliever Joe Testa to give the Pelicans a 3-1 lead.

Rasmus left the game with the lead after allowing just one run on five hits in five innings of work. In two starts at BB&T Coastal Field, Rasmus has surrendered just two earned runs in 11 innings.

With a doubleheader sweep within reach, the Pelicans turned to the bullpen for the final six outs, but that's when the P-Nats brought out their bats. Against Aynor, South Carolina native Thomas Berryhill, who was making his Carolina League debut, the Nats scratched out a pair of runs on a single from Chris Curran and a wild pitch from Berryhill. The P-Nats nearly took the lead in the sixth, but Sammy Sime and Braeden Schlehuber hooked up for a sensational play on a Dan Lyons groundball to nail Curran at home plate to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Pelicans couldn't capitalize on a golden opportunity to take the lead. Sumoza lead off with a double and Schlehuber reached on an error by pitcher Joe Testa. With runners on first and third and nobody out, L.V. Ware was called out on a questionable check swing for the first out. Two batters later, the Pelicans were back in the dugout without another run scoring.

In the top of the seventh and final inning, Berryhill stayed in the game to face Pelican killer Moore who clobbered a Berryhill offering over the left field wall to give the P-Nats a 4-3 lead. For Moore, the league leader in homers and RBI, it was his seventh round tripper of the season in 16 games against the Pelicans, and his 18th run batted in.

The Pelicans will try for a sweep tomorrow night with first pitch set for 6:05 ET.

Sunday will mark the finale of this four-game series between the Pelicans and the P-Nats as the Birds will celebrate their Summer Readers Program participants with a ceremony on the field in addition to fireworks after the game. The Readers Program and the fireworks are both presented by McDonald's. For the Family Sunday affair, there will also be a pre-game catch on the field as well as a Guns and Hoses softball game which pits local fire fighters and police officers against each other in a charitable fundraising contest before the game.

For more information on daily promotions, tickets, and all things Pelicans, log onto myrtlebeachpelicans.com or call 1-877-918-TIXX or 843-918-6000.

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Carolina League Stories from August 8, 2010


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