CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Earn Split in Winston-Salem

Published on May 18, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After a brutal 6-3 extra-inning loss in the opener, spot starter Kennil Gomez came through with a terrific outing and Jared Bolden crushed a mammoth three-run home run as the Pelicans salvaged a twinbill split in Winston-Salem with a 6-0 win. The right-hander tossed five shutout innings of four-hit ball in just hits second start of the season.

The opening game saw the Pelicans go without a hit until a David Paisano single with one out in the fifth, despite drawing six walks off starter Andre Rienzo. Myrtle Beach could not get much off the right-hander who gave up one run on two hits in six innings and struck out six.

The Pelicans got a great start from Robbie Erlin, who cruised into the fourth until Jose Martinez snapped a scoreless tie with a home run to left center.

The Pelicans trailed 1-0 in the sixth but down to their last four outs, Jared Prince singled in Mike Olt from second base to tie the game. In the seventh against reliever Taylor Thompson, Leury Garcia singled with two out and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. Ryan Strausborger followed with a grounder to third and as he beat the throw to first for an infield hit, Garcia scored all the way from second for the go-ahead run.

Erlin could not close the door. With two outs to get in the seventh, Carolina League home run leader Ian Gac knocked a long ball off the top of the left center field fence to tie the game at two. Erlin was removed after six and two-thirds innings of two-run, three-hit ball. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The Birds retook the lead in the eighth off Thompson (3-1) when Santiago Chirino blooped a single to center with two down to plate Mitch Hilligoss with another go-ahead run. Johan Yan (1-2) could not make it stand up though as Nick Ciolli led off the home half with a homer to dead center to tie it again. Jared Mitchell worked a pinch-hit walk and moved to second on a sacrifice. Tyler Saladino was intentionally walked and two batters later, it was Gac again. He crushed an opposite-field walk-off three-run shot to hand the Dash the 6-3 win.

Myrtle Beach bounced back quickly in the second game, as Jared Hoying led off the contest with a double and came around to score on a Garcia single. Those two teamed up again in the third when after Hoying walked and moved to third on a bad pickoff throw, Garcia grounded out to give the Birds a 2-0 lead. Hoying added an RBI in the fifth on a single that plated Andres James.

Jared Bolden broke the game open with his towering three-run blast well over the right-center field fence to put the Pelicans in front 6-0. That was more than enough for Gomez (1-1), who did not allow anyone past first base in his solid spot start. Chad Bell worked a scoreless sixth, but the Dash made things interesting in the seventh against Kasey Kiker.

After three walks and an infield single, Kiker was chased with two outs in a 6-1 game. Zach Osborne inherited a bases-loaded jam and he gave up a three-run single to Martinez that cut it to 6-4 and brought the tying run to the plate. Osborne buckled down to get Kyle Colligan on a fly out to center to lock down the win and his first save.

Santos Rodriguez (2-1) took the loss for the Dash, going just two in a spot start. Winston-Salem patched the rest of the game with relievers Brandon Kloess, Wes Whisler, Addison Reed and Ryan Kussmaul.

The series finale is tomorrow night as righty Barret Loux goes for the Pelicans against Dash southpaw Santos Rodriguez. First pitch at BB&T Ballpark scheduled for 7:00 p.m. After finishing the road trip this weekend in Wilmington, the Birds return home on May 24 to face the Salem Red Sox. Tickets for all Pelicans home games are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, and by phone at 843-918-6000 or 877-918-TIXX.

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Carolina League Stories from May 18, 2011


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