CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Excel in All-Star Game

Published on June 21, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MODESTO, CA. - Four Myrtle Beach Pelicans took part in Tuesday's California-Carolina League All-Star Game at John Thurman Field. Ace right-hander Joe Wieland got the starting nod and was brilliant in one inning of work. Ryan Strausborger notched a hit while Zach Zaneski and Robbie Ross teamed up for a scoreless seventh inning as the Carolina Leaguers fell 6-1.

Wieland, whose four walks in 85 and two-thirds innings this season gives him the best walks per inning ratio in all of minor league baseball, was named the starter for the Carolina League and he made the most of the honor. Pitching in front of family and friends that made the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Reno, NV, the right-hander turned in a dominant first inning before being removed.

He picked up an out on his first pitch of the night as he induced a fly out from San Jose's Gary Brown to his Myrtle Beach teammate Strausborger in center field. Against Visalia's Adam Eaton, who ranks ninth in the California League in hitting and third in on base percentage, Wieland dealt a called strike before getting a groundout to second for a quick second out.

Joe ended his night with a flourish against Lake Elsinore third baseman Jedd Gyorko. Gyorko is hitting .381 for the Storm (second-best in the California League) and leads the circuit in hits, doubles, runs and extra-base hits. Wieland started with a called strike before Gyorko swung and missed at strike two. The Pelicans ace froze Gyorko on a called third strike to cap a 1-2-3 first. After throwing only six pitches, all for strikes, Wieland was taken out for Kinston ace lefty Drew Pomeranz.

Strausborger started in center field for the Carolina League squad and went 1-for-4. He was called out on strikes in the first and grounded out to third in the fourth before lacing a single to right in the sixth. In his final at bat, he grounded out to short to end the eighth. Strausborger, who leads the Carolina League in hits with 84 and ranks third in the loop in hitting at .305, played the entire game in center and made a nice diving catch on a sacrifice fly in the third.

Zaneski pinch hit for starting catcher Dan Butler of Salem with two on and two out in the sixth with the Cal Leaguers up 5-1. He hit a hard ground ball, but it was right at second baseman Michael Gilmartin who made the play to end the threat. Zaneski caught the final three innings of the game and in the ninth against Modesto's own Chad Bettis, Zaneski grounded out to second to finish 0-for-2.

When Zaneski went behind the plate to catch the bottom of the seventh, he saw a familiar face in the new pitcher Ross. The lefty struck out Eaton swinging for the first out of the inning and jumped ahead of Gyorko 0-2 before getting him on a groundout to second. Like his teammate Wieland, Ross ended his night with a strikeout, this one on a swing and a miss by pinch-hitter Kody Hinze. Tied for the league lead in wins with seven, Ross threw nine of his 12 pitches for strikes.

The two Pelicans hurlers were the only ones to retire Gyorko, as the Padres prospect went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and one run scored to take home Top Star honors for the Cal League.

The Pelicans charge out of the break to host the Potomac Nationals for the first of three games starting Thursday at BB&T Coastal Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all Pelicans home games, including the postseason, 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 June 21, 2011


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