CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Rocked in Salem Opener

Published on May 24, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Salem Red Sox really have the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' number. Robbie Erlin's six strong innings went to waste as Chris Hernandez and two relievers combined to hold the Birds to just one run in an 8-1 Salem victory. The Pelicans dropped their fourth straight game as the Red Sox moved into a first-place tie with the Pelicans in the Southern Division.

The Red Sox struck early against Erlin with a one-out triple by Kolbrin Vitek in the first. Dan Butler immediately hit a long fly out to right field for a sacrifice fly and a 1-0 Salem lead.

Salem picked up an unearned run in the fourth when after a Leury Garcia throwing error put Shannon Wilkerson aboard, Zach Gentile doubled him home to put the Red Sox up 2-0.

The Pelicans left two runners on base against Hernandez in both the first and fourth innings, and finally got on the board in the fifth. Santiago Chirino led off with a double and after David Paisano singled him to third, the Pelicans seemed to be in business. Jared Hoying drove in one run with a groundout, but Garcia and Ryan Strausborger stranded the tying run in scoring position to end the threat.

Erlin (3-2) allowed two runs, one earned, in his outing on just five hits. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter, but was saddled with another loss against Salem despite giving up just two earned runs in two games against them. On May 6 in Salem, the lefty retired 21 of the 22 batters he faced, but was sunk by a Peter Hissey solo homer and was outdueled by Hernandez.

The Salem starter worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits. Hernandez (5-1) struck out seven while walking two and moved into a tie for the league lead in wins, joining Robbie Ross of the Pelicans and Michael Mariot of Wilmington.

The visitors plated runs off reliever Kennil Gomez on an RBI double by Peter Hissey in the seventh and on a wild pitch in the eighth. Salem blew it open with four runs in the ninth off Zach Osborne.

Will Latimer set down nine of the ten men he faced while tossing three scoreless innings behind Hernandez. Anatanaer Batista pitched the ninth for Salem and although the Pelicans loaded the bases against the righty with one out, Paisano lined into a game-ending double-play.

Game two of the three-game set is slated for tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Barret Loux goes for the Pelicans against Salem southpaw Drake Britton. Tickets for all Pelicans home games are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, and by phone at 843-918-6000 or 877-918-TIXX.

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Carolina League Stories from May 24, 2011


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