CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Game Notes

Published on June 6, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


TODAY'S GAME AT A GLANCE: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans aim to clinch the first half Southern Division title with a win tonight over the Kinston Indians. The Pelicans have not earned a playoff berth since the 2002 season, when they won the first half with a record of 43-37. The K-Tribe have won the last four first-half Southern Division titles. Winston-Salem won the first-half in 2003. The Pelicans finished their most recent homestand 7-0, with sweeps of the Frederick Keys and Winston-Salem Warthogs. A win tonight would also give the Pelicans their longest winning streak (8) of the season.

Reynoso: Making his 12th start of the season, Reynoso has come on strong in his last four outings. His ERA has dipped in each of his last four starts, from 4.05 (May 14) to 3.16 (today). In his last outing (6/1 vs. FRE), Reynoso excelled in six innings, allowing just four hits and a run, while striking out five. Reynoso has faltered in the early innings this season. In 11.0 first innings, he has surrendered 11 hits and four runs, including three homers. In the second inning this season, he has allowed 11 hits and seven runs. He tends to improve as his starts go along as evident by his third inning ERA of 0.82.

The Sun Valley, Idaho native was signed by the Braves on November 9, 2006. He played his college baseball at Boston College. In his first professional season, he was the closer for the Rome Braves. He secured a team-best nine saves in 40 total appearances.

Smith: Reinvented his season over the last five starts, in which he has earned the win in four of them. Against the Pelicans (5/21) he picked up the win in six stellar innings, allowing just three hits and no runs. Smith fanned six Pelicans and did not walk a single batter. It was arguably his finest performance of the year. In his first start against the Pelicans (4/19) he was hit with the loss in 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. Overall, Smith has compiled 65.0 total innings in 11 total starts. In each of his last six starts, he has gone into the seventh. He actually finished the seventh in three of those six.

A native of Plainfield, NJ, Smith played collegiately at Okaloosa-Walton CC in Florida. Last season, he went 11-6 with a 4.42 ERA for Lake County in the South Atlantic League.

THE MAGIC IS IN THE NUMBER: The Pelicans have trimmed their magic number to clinch the first half title to one. One win in this series will wrap up the first half for Myrtle Beach.

BEACH BOMBS: The Pelicans currently boast the most home runs of any team in the Carolina League (56). That total includes 11 for shortstop Brandon Hicks, which places him tied for second in the loop. With the torrid pace of long-balls, the birds are on pace to shatter the existing franchise record of 105 home runs in a season set in the club's inaugural season of 1999. At their current clip, Myrtle Beach would post 128 homers for the season. Last night, Eric Campbell registered his first long ball of the season over the left-field wall.

VICTORY PARADE: The Pelicans (40-20) now stand three victories shy of equaling the franchise record for wins in the first half (43), which was established in 2002. The birds have seven games remaining in their first half schedule to try to match or break the record.

WELL BALANCED ATTACK: The Pelicans are arguably the most well balanced machine in the Carolina League. Here are a few numbers to prove that. Eight different Pelicans are hitting over .250. Ten different Pelicans have recorded at least one home run. Six different Pelicans have managed at least ten doubles. Six Pelicans have knocked in more than 20 runs. The Pelicans are tied for second in the league in team batting average (.256). They rank first in the league in runs scored with 299 and first in the league in hits with 518.

Check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2008


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