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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Clinch Carolina League South Division First Half Title with Extra Innings Win at Kannapolis

June 23, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Having to win or rely on Charleston to lose in the first-half finale to clinch the Carolina League South Division title, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans rallied from down five runs to beat the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 8-7 on Thursday night. The victory secured the Pelicans' first playoff appearance since 2017 as they completed the first half with a 47-19 record, finishing one game above the Charleston RiverDogs in the South Division standings. Kannapolis dropped to 26-40 with the loss.

The Birds' offense was once again paced by Ezequiel Pagan (3-4, HR, RBI 3 R, BB) as he hit a solo homer in the second and scored the winning run in the 10th. Josue Huma (3-5, 2B, 3 RBI) knocked in two on a double to give the Pelicans the lead in the eighth and Felix Stevens (1-5, HR, 2 RBI) lifted a home run in the four-run eighth. Seven of the eight runs for Myrtle Beach came in the seventh inning or later.

With many arms on short rest, the Pelicans got through the game with just three pitchers as Johzan Oquendo (1-0) earned his first win of the year with 1 2/3 shutout innings collecting three strikeouts and walking one. Starter Luis Devers allowed six earned runs off nine hits in the opening six innings of the contest.

It was a big day at the plate for DJ Gladney (2-5, 2 HR, 2 RBI) who smashed two solo homers in the second and fourth innings, both off Devers. Colson Montgomery (1-5, 2 RBI) brought in two more with Victor Torres (2-4, RBI, R) posting a multi-hit performance.

Nick Gallagher (0-1) allowed the final run of the game in his lone inning to take the loss. Rigo Fernandez blew the save with two earned runs off two hits and a walk in his 1 2/3 frames, and Hunter Dollander sacrificed four earned runs across 4 2/3 innings as the first pitcher out of the bullpen.

Knowing that a win would automatically clinch the first-half title, the Pelicans got off to a hot start as Pagan drove his sixth home run to right-center field with one out in the top of the second inning.

The lead was short-lived as Gladney began the second with a solo homer to left-center. Wilfred Veras followed with a double and Samil Polanco also hit a double to plate Veras as Kannapolis took a 2-1 lead. Torres grounded a single to center with one out to bring in Polanco for a 3-1 Cannon Ballers lead.

Gladney once again homered in the fourth inning to lead off with his 12th blast of the year.

Three-straight singles started the bottom of the fifth as the Cannon Ballers loaded the bases. After a Devers strikeout, Montgomery hit an infield single to Made at short as two runs came across for a 6-1 Kannapolis advantage.

As the Charleston RiverDogs walked-off winners on the Columbia Fireflies to force a Myrtle Beach victory to clinch the title, the comeback was on. With runners on the corners and one out, Stevens hit an infield single to the shortstop to bring in a run. Kevin Made followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 6-3 Kannapolis lead.

Four runs in the eighth inning pushed the Birds ahead. Pagan doubled down the right-field line and Stevens hit a moonshot home run to left-center field to bring the Pelicans within one. Ethan Hearn followed with a double and Jacob Wetzel worked a walk to put two runners on with one out. After Reivaj Garcia struck out, Huma grounded a double up the left-field line to bring in two as Myrtle Beach took the lead 7-6.

Oquendo came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning with one out and a runner on to replace Angel Hernandez. He struck out his first batter but walked the next to put runners on first and second. A wild pitch moved both up a base, and another one brought in James Beard as the Cannon Ballers sent the game into extra-innings tied 7-7.

Pagan would start on second for the Pelicans in the top of the 10th and quickly advanced to third on a passed ball by catcher Torres. With one out in the inning, Hearn chopped one to Wilber Sanchez at shortstop, Pagan broke for home, and the throw beat him to the plate. Pagan maneuvered around to avoid the tag and dove for home safely as the Birds took the lead back 8-7.

Wes Kath started on second base for Kannapolis and moved to third on a groundout by Montgomery. Gladney struck out and Veras grounded out to Made at short to wrap up the game.

Myrtle Beach and Kannapolis will start the second half of the season on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.

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