CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Game Notes

Published on April 19, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Myrtle Beach Pelicans (7-8) vs. Kinston Indians (3-8)

Saturday, April 19 -- 7:00 PM

Historic Grainger Stadium -- Kinston, NC

Game #16, Road Game #10

TODAY'S GAME AT A GLANCE: After the Pelicans held off a furious rally from the K-Tribe in the bottom of the ninth inning last night to win, 4-2, the two teams will each look for the upper-hand in the series in the pivotal game three tonight. Game three of the series will be the third consecutive 7:00 PM start prior to tomorrow's matinee finale.

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS: In a battle of right-handers, Pelicans' ace Tommy Hanson makes his fourth start of the season, and third on the road. He will be opposed by Carlton Smith who will make his third start of the year and second at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Hanson: Has been the most dominant pitcher in the Carolina League through the first two weeks of the season. He has allowed just one unearned run through his three starts and 17.0 IP thus far, and currently leads the CL with the most innings pitched prior to allowing an earned run. He also paces the loop with 26 strikeouts. He picked up his first win his last time out, limiting the Winston-Salem Warthogs to a lone unearned run on three hits over five innings, while striking out six. He began the season with 11-consecutive scoreless innings, which coincided with his first two road starts of the season (4/4 @ Wilmingon - 4/9 @ Potomac).

The 21-year old split the season between low class-A Rome and advanced-A Myrtle Beach in 2007, making a combined 26 appearances and 24 starts.

Smith: The native of New Jersey makes his third start of the season tonight, and second at home. He has not advanced past the fourth inning in either of his two appearances this year, going four innings against Wilmington on the road the last time out. He permitted four earned runs on four hits, which included a home run. He went three innings in his 2008 debut against the Frederick Keys at home. The 22-year old was hit hard, conceding seven hits and three runs over his three frames. He walked two and struck out two.

Smith spent the entire 2007 season with the Lake County Captains (A). He split his time between the bullpen and the starting rotation, posting an 11-6 record and an ERA of 4.22.

FLURRY OF FEATHERS PART FOUR: The Pelicans have made a flurry of roster moves over the past week (13) and continued that trend by activating RHP Chris Vines from the Disabled List prior to last night's ballgame. Vines came out of the bullpen for the first time since 4/7 and turned in an uneventful scoreless inning. Vines return puts the Pelicans back at 25 active players.

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: The pen may be mightier than the sword, and for the Birds, the arms have certainly been mightier than the bats over the first two weeks of the season. The Pelicans, bolstered by the front end of their starting rotation and the back end of their bullpen have compiled the second best team ERA in the Carolina League (2.67), trailing only the Potomac Nationals staff ERA of 2.46. Both Tommy Hanson (1st, 0.00) and Deunte Heath (6th, 1.00) are in the league top-10 in ERA, while Kevin Gunderson and Brett Butts share the league lead in saves (3).

Meanwhile, the bats have been quiet for the Pelicans through 15 games. They currently have the lowest team batting average in the league (.217), which trails the league-leading Frederick Keys by 47 points (.264). Myrtle Beach has scored two or fewer runs in six of their 15 contests and are presently averaging just 2.9 runs per game, which is also a league low. One bright spot has been Gorkys Hernandez, who is tied for second in the league in hits with 19 and extra-base hits with eight. The center fielder leads the loop with four triples.

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Carolina League Stories from April 19, 2008


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