CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Notes - 7:05 vs. Frederick - May 2, 2014

Published on May 2, 2014 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


LAST TIME OUT: The Pelicans rallied with seven runs in the seventh in a come-from-behind 9-5 victory over the Frederick Keys in their return home to TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on Thursday night. CHRISTOPHER BOSTICK and JOEY GALLO both homered, and the bullpen tossed five scoreless frames to finish off the Keys...VICTOR PAYANO went just four innings on Thursday night. He allowed five runs, all earned, on seven hits and four walks, a hit batter, and three strikeouts...

The Pelicans turned a three-run deficit into a four-run lead with a seven- run seventh inning on a homer, three doubles, three singles, and a walk off of Mychal Givens...The bullpen closed the door the rest of the way. ANDREW FAULKNER tossed two scoreless innings, ALEXANDER CLAUDIO put up one zero, and JOSE LECLERC added another. The Keys loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate against Leclerc in the ninth but could not get another run across.

HOME SWEET HOME: After an 0-6 start at home, the Pelicans have won their last six home games. With a win on Friday, the Birds could tie their longest home winning streak from last year. On two occasions, the club won seven straight at home. The 2008 Pelicans, who also held the longest road winning streak until this season, had streaks of eight and nine home games won consecutively during their 89-51 season. The nine game streak, which took place on July 25 and July 31-August 6 and August 14 is the longest home winning streak in known franchise history (dating back through the 2004 season).

300: THE RISE OF THE PELICANS: Last night marked the 300th all- time meeting between the Pelicans and Keys. Since becoming a Rangers affiliate prior to the 2011 season, the Pelicans are 23-7 against Frederick at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark, dominating the Keys in Myrtle Beach.

SHAKE 'N BAKE: With the rain out Tuesday and the off day on Wednesday, the Pelicans rotation has shifted around for the first time this year for a reason other than due to injury. LUIS PARRA was due to throw on Tuesday, but was pushed back to tonight night to allow VICTOR PAYANO to throw as scheduled last night. ANDREW FAULKNER has been pushed back to the end of the rotation, and appeared in relief in last night's game. CHI CHI GONZALEZ and SAM WOLFF, like Payano, will throw as originally scheduled on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

CHANGING ROLES: On Monday, right-handed pitcher CODY BUCKEL made his bullpen debut and first appearance since coming off of the disabled list on a week ago. Buckel tossed a scoreless inning in the sixth in a one-run game. Buckel walked one and struck out one. ONE RUN WOES: The Birds won the first four one-run games they played in this season. They lost three games on the road trip, all by one run. They are 4-3 now in one-run games.

FREE TICKETS EVERYONE: Myrtle Beach has posted the second best ERA in the league so far this season, yet has handed out its fair share of walks. The team has issued 118 walks, most in the Carolina League and the sixth-most in all of minor league baseball. VICTOR PAYANO, Friday night's starter, has the MiLB lead in walks (27). The team 4.89 BB/9 is the highest rate in the minors as well.

WINNING THE GROUND GAME: Myrtle Beach hit into two double plays on Thursday night, yet still are tied with Lynchburg for the fewest hit into this season (10). The defense has turned a league-high 22 double plays.

E-ESH!: With 40 errors this season, the Pelicans have committed the second most in the league in the category (WS - 43) and the fifth most in MiLB. They have made blunders in each of the last four games, with multiple errors in three of the four games. The club also leads the league in passed balls with six; all of them have been committed by JORGE ALFARO.

HANSER THE ANSWER: Shortstop HANSER ALBERTO has hit safely in seven straight games. He is one short of Odubel Herrera's team-high hit streak of eight, captured in early April. Hanser is hitting .345 with a double, four runs scored, and six RBI during the stretch.

BOLING FOR HITS: Right fielder ROYCE BOLINGER brought his hot bat on the road. After an 11-for-22 (.500) homestand in which he scored two runs, stroked four doubles, clubbed two home runs, and collected 11 RBIs, Bolinger hit safely in five of the six games on the road trip. He returned home and collected another hit last night. He is now hitting .369, second in the league and first among qualifying Rangers farmhands.

THE FINAL BECKONING: PRESTON BECK is in the midst of a six- game hitting streak. Over that stretch, he has raised his average from .250 to .306. Since his grand slam on April 17, he has raised his on-base percentage from .275 to .398, which is good for fourth best on the team (behind Gallo, Herrera, and Bolinger).

THE HENDERSON HAMMER: Joey Gallo earned his second Carolina League Player of the Week award on Monday. He hit .364, going 8-for-22 during the week with three homers, a double, a triple, 9 RBI, seven runs scored, and eight walks. Gallo has homered multiple times in a game on 11 occasions in his career (two in 2012, 7 in 2013, 2 this season) and on consecutive days 21 times (13 in 2012, six in 2013, two this year). The slugger homered on Thursday night in the 9-5 over Frederick, sparking the seven-run seventh inning with a solo shot to start the frame. Gallo leads the Rangers system and current minor leaguers in homers. He led all of minor league baseball in 2013 with 40 home runs. He has more homers than 15 minor league teams, including one team in the Carolina League (Wilmington). Among qualifying players, he is leading the minors in slugging, second in OPS and sixth in runs scored.

STRUTTING THEIR FEATHERS: The Pelicans roster currently features seven players highlighted in Baseball America's list of the Rangers' Top 30 prospects, including four of the top 5, and three in the overall top 100 in MiLB. Catcher JORGE ALFARO (ranked No. 2 in the Rangers Top 30, No. 54 in the overall Top 100), NICK WILLIAMS (3, 97) and third baseman JOEY GALLO (4, 60) rank in the top 100. The other four players in the Texas Top 30 are RHPs ALEX "CHI CHI" GONZALEZ (5), JOSE LECLERC (16), and KEONE KELA (18) and LHP ALEXANDER CLAUDIO (27). The publication also tabbed Gallo in their Top Tools superlatives as the "Best Power Hitter" and "Best Infield Arm" and Kela's heater as the "Best Fastball." Unranked in the top 30, CHRIS GARIA is the "Fastest Baserunner" and PRESTON BECK has the "Best Outfield Arm." CHRISTOPHER BOSTICK, traded from Oakland in December, was ranked No. 18 in the Athletics' top 30 by BA.

TODAY'S OPPOSING STARTER: Branden Kline, the Frederick, MD native, makes his sixth start. In four of his five outings, Kline has tossed five or more innings and allowed two or fewer runs, going seven innings with one run allowed his last two...LAST TIME OUT: 4/24 vs. MB: ND, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3K...OTHER STARTS: 4/3 at LYN: W, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4K...4/08 vs. CAR: L, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K...4/13 vs. LYN: ND, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K...4/18 at CAR: ND, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K...

BIO: 6'3", 210 22 yrs (9/29)...Kline grew up coming to Keys games...taken by Baltimore in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft, signing for a reported $793,700...RANKINGS: No. 20 prospect in the Orioles Top 30 according to Baseball America...IN 2013: Kline went 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA for Low-A Delmarva, but his season was cut short due to a right ankle suffered in May during a conditioning drill... Pitched in the Arizona Fall League going 1-1 with a 10.54 ERA (16 R/13.2 IP) and allowed 23 hits...IN 2012: Made just four appearances for Class A Short Season Aberdeen, 0-0, 4.50 ERA.

Allowed 12 hits in 12.0 IP...REPERTOIRE: Fastball 88-92 as a starter, can touch 95 out the bullpen...Slider...Changeup.

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Carolina League Stories from May 2, 2014


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