CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Game Notes

Published on May 5, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Myrtle Beach Pelicans (18-12) vs. Potomac Nationals (19-9)

Monday, May 5 -- 7:05 PM

BB&T Coastal Field -- Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Game #31, Home Game #13

TODAY'S GAME AT A GLANCE: The Pelicans begin a three-game series against Northern division leading Potomac. During their first road swing of the season, the Pelicans were swept in three games by the P-Nats. The Pelicans have had success over their last ten, winning a league best seven games.

The Pelicans capped off an outstanding road trip last night with a 10-6 win over the Avalanche.

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS: The Pelicans will send right-hander Tommy Hanson to the hill tonight, looking for his fourth win of the season against right-hander Jordan Zimmermann who is also looking for his fourth victory of the season.

Hanson: Has taken the Carolina League by storm in his first six starts of the season. Hanson has been honored as the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week twice in 2008. The right-hander leads the Carolina League with 42 strikeouts and is second in ERA (0.79). He has recorded at least four strikeouts in each of his six starts, while he has posted six or more in five of them. His best outing of the season came in his first when he struck out 13 batters in just five innings of work.

The Riverside, California native was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2005 draft by the Atlanta Braves. He is the #9 rated prospect in the Braves organization according to Baseball America.

Zimmermann: Recently named as the Carolina League Pitcher of the week (4/28-5/4) Zimmerman has pitched very well in his first five starts of the year. In his last outing against the Blue Rocks (4/30), he went a season-long seven innings, allowing just three hits and no runs. He has blanked the opposition in three of his five starts. In 27 1/3 innings pitched, he has victimized 31 batters via the strikeout. Zimmermann is fourth in the Carolina League in ERA (1.65)

The 21-year old was drafted by the Nationals in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is the #7 rated prospect in the Nationals organization according to Baseball America.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Pelicans are currently the only team in the CL with a winning record on the road, having compiled a 11-7 mark thus far. That bodes well for the Southern Division front-runners, who will play seven of their next ten games away from the Grand Strand.

MAY-HE-A: So far so good in the month of May for Ernesto Mejia, who has hit safely in the first three games of the month and is riding a season-high seven-game hit streak (.500, 14-28, 3 HR). The first baseman tied the Pelicans franchise record with six RBIs in Saturday's 8-4 win. Mejia has hit safely in each game of this road trip and currently has a ten-game road hit streak (.461, 18-39). All four of his home runs have come on the road and during the streak. Mejia was named the Carolina league Player of the Week for the week of April 28th-May 4th.

KEVIN "NINTH INNING" GUNDERSON: Pelicans closer Kevin Gunderson has been sensational this season. Gunderson has converted all eight of his save opportunities to this point, including saving both Pelicans victories in the Lynchburg series and last night's game three win. Gunderson, who leads the Carolina League in the category has recorded saves in each of his last six outings and did not allow a run in any of his first eight appearances (4/4-4/26).

STREAKS AND SUCH: A number of Pelicans are currently riding impressive streaks. Jon Mark Owings is the first to reach a ten-game hitting streak. The last time he didn't record a hit was on April 23rd against Lynchburg. Travis Jones is on an eight-game hitting streak, in which he is hitting .388 with three home runs. Pelicans' reliever Chris Vines has not allowed a run to cross in seven consecutive innings, spanning two appearances.

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Carolina League Stories from May 5, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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