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CarL Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Shutout in Second-Straight Game, Lose 4-0 to Charleston

June 18, 2021 - Carolina League (CarL)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Charleston RiverDogs have taken the first four games of the series as the Pelicans fell 4-0 on Friday night. The loss is the second shutout in a row for the RiverDogs, who now have a MiLB-best eight shutouts on the season. The Birds' record falls to 17-22, while Charleston moves up to 25-13 and remains in command of the Low-A East, South Division standings. Friday's game was another attendance record for the 2021 season, as 5,256 fans enjoyed a Family Friday at the ballpark with a postgame fireworks show.

In the shutout, the Pelicans tallied six hits for the evening. Jacob Wetzel (2-2) was the only Pelican to record multiple hits. Wetzel extended his on-base streak to three games with the base knocks.

Didier Vargas (2-2) took the loss after starting his first game of the year. The lefty threw 3.2 innings with all four runs being earned off five hits. Vargas also walked two and struck out a season-high four batters. Jose Miguel Gonzalez was solid out of the bullpen in his 4.1 innings pitched with only one hit allowed and five punchouts.

While being held to just six hits, the RiverDogs still cashed in for four runs. Curtis Mead (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI) drove in his seventh and eighth RBIs of the series with a double in the third inning. Osleivis Basabe (2-4, R) and Alexander Ovalles (2-3, R) posted the two multi-hit performances for Charleston.

The win was handed to starting pitcher Taj Bradley (4-2) after five shutout innings with only one hit allowed and eight strikeouts. The following three pitchers held the shutout intact for the second shutout of the series.

Both teams were retired in order in the opening frame, with the first runs of the game not coming until the third inning. Vargas retired the first two batters of the inning, then gave up walks to Jonathan Embry and Heriberto Hernandez. Mead followed by blasting a double to deep center field to drive in both runs and give the RiverDogs a 2-0 lead. It was the fifth double of the series for Mead as he's now driven in eight runs in four games.

The Pelicans were close to adding their first run in their half of the third. Jonathan Sierra reached on a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning. Sierra advanced to second on a wild pitch and rounded third base on a single to left field by Flemin Bautista. Sierra was thrown out at the plate by Diego Infante to end the inning and hold Myrtle Beach scoreless.

Charleston came back with two more runs in the next inning, with Ovalles lining a ball to left field for a one-out single. Basabe followed with a single to right off Vargas, and Garrett Hiott loaded the bases by reaching on a fielder's choice that was fumbled by shortstop Ed Howard and everybody was safe. Johan Lopez came up next and grounded to short for an out as Ovalles scored. Embry capped off the inning with a bloop single to right field that drove in Basabe and lengthened the lead to 4-0.

The Birds saw two chances to get back in the game come and go in the seventh and eighth innings. After the first two batters were retired in the seventh, Matt Mervis drew a walk to get on base. Pablo Aliendo followed up with a single to left field to put two runners on. Luis Verdugo approached the plate and struck out on a 3-2 pitch by reliever Neraldo Catalina to end the inning.

In the eighth, it was Wetzel and Sierra both hitting singles with one out to give the Pelicans a chance. Bautista flew out to right field for the second out that let Wetzel tag up and reach third. With runners at the corners, Fabian Pertuz struck out on another full count by reliever Andrew Gross to shut down the opportunity for the Pelicans.

Charleston and Myrtle Beach will kick off the weekend with a 6:05 first pitch on Saturday night for game five.

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