Pelicans Game Notes
July 18, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release
LHP Justin Marks (5-6, 4.28) at LHP Robbie Ross (8-3, 2.40)
FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC (PART TWO): A night after the Pelicans bounced back from three runs down in the seventh to win in extra innings, they did it again on Saturday to earn a four-game sweep of Salem. Jared Bolden cracked the Pelicans' first walk-off homer of the season in the bottom of the 13th. Bolden has multiple hits in his last five games, going 14-for-24 (.583) with three homers, eight RBIs and six runs scored. Batting .247 on July 1, the Lynchburg, VA native has hit .478 (22-46) over his last 12 games to raise his average 44 points and soar to fifth on the Carolina League leaderboard with a .291 mark.
WALKING OFF AGAIN: Jared Bolden's game-winning home run in the bottom of the 13th on Saturday was the Pelicans' first walk-off shot since Mycal Jones's 12th-inning solo blast took down Potomac on June 15 last year. In 2011 the Birds have won in walk-off fashion six times this year, all in extra innings. That still trails the 2010 club, who despite struggling to a 58-82 record, pulled out nine. With Zach Zaneski's 12th-inning single to win on Friday, the Pelicans had back-to-back walk-offs against Salem for the second year in a row. Last season, Myrtle Beach won in the bottom of the ninth on August 24th (Luis Sumoza 1B) and 25th (Cody Johnson 2B).
THE 'PEN IS MIGHTIER: One key to the Birds' first sweep of Salem since April 2006 was strong performances out of the bullpen. Over the last three games, seven Myrtle Beach relievers have combined to toss 13 and one-third scoreless innings. Joe Ortiz and the now promoted Johan Yan picked up two outs apiece to close out Thursday's win. On Friday, Ryan Kelly's three shutout frames and Zach Osborne's two opened the door for a comeback. Saturday brought seven scoreless innings, four from Kennil Gomez, one and two thirds from Chad Bell and one and a third from Ryan Rodebaugh in his first victory as a Pelican.
GRAND STRAND DRAMA: The Pelicans have won back-to-back extra-inning thrillers, but that's par for the course at BB&T Coastal Field in 2011. 27 of the Birds' 42 home games (64.2%) have been decided by one or two runs and the Pelicans are 19-8 in those contests. Limiting it to only one-run games, the Birds are 14-5 at home, making up 45.2 percent of their home games. Leaguewide, more than half (198 of 368, 53.8%) of this year's games have been one or two-run affairs.
THAT'S HOW ROUGHRIDERS ROLL: Five players that started 2011 in Myrtle Beach are currently playing for the Frisco RoughRiders in Double-A. They've all enjoyed success since moving up one level in the Texas farm system. Southpaw starter Robbie Erlin is 5-1 with a 3.95 ERA in nine games, eight starts, since his promotion on May 27. Through his first four starts, right-hander Joe Wieland has posted a 2.05 ERA. Since an April 28 call-up, Tyler Tufts has been one of the best set-up men in the Texas League with a 2.05 ERA in 25 relief appearances. Johan Yan retired six of the seven batters he faced in his two-inning debut on Saturday. Mitch Hilligoss has hit .250 in his first seven games with Frisco and he belted his first homer in last night's win over Corpus Christi.
Carolina League Stories from July 18, 2011
- Slim Pickens for Winston in 5-4 Defeat - Winston-Salem Dash
- Kinston Wins With Three Runs in the Bottom of the Ninth Inning - Kinston Indians
- Bundy Ks Nine in CG Victory for Frederick - Salem Red Sox
- Birds Win Blowout with Back-To-Back Jacks - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Bundy's Night Is Complete - Frederick Keys
- Nats' Out-Duel 'Cats 1-0 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Selik Pitches P-Nats to Shutout Win - Potomac Nationals
- Bolden Named Carolina League Player of the Week - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Sierra Promoted to Birmingham - Winston-Salem Dash
- Kinston Indian Marty Popham Is the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week - Kinston Indians
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