CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Split Double Dip

Published on July 6, 2006 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


FREDERICK, MD - On Thursday afternoon the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (9-4, 44-39) and Frederick Keys (27-45) each enjoyed 6-2 victories as they played to a split in an afternoon doubleheader. In game one the Pelicans rode the arm of Luis Atilano who spun his 2nd complete game of the year and a pair of three-run innings to take down the Keys 6-2. In game two the Keys returned the favor and handed the Pelicans a 6-2 loss.

Frederick brought the home crowd to their feet in the bottom of the 1st inning with three straight singles from 3B Pete Maestrales, RF Jake Duncan, and CF Nolan Reimold. Reimold's single brought in Maestrales with the first run of the afternoon and the Keys held an early 1-0 edge. The next batter, 1B Mario Delgado, bounced into a double play, which brought in Duncan from third to make it 2-0 in favor of the Keys.

The Pelicans fought back in the top of the 2nd and overcame the early disadvantage. After 1B Kala Ka'aihue drew a lead-off walk, LF Carl Loadenthal hammered a two-run homer over the right field fence. Loadenthal's 4th longball of the year tied the game at 2-2. DH Mark Jurich rode the momentum of Loadenthal's home run, by ripping a double into right-centerfield. Later in the inning Jurich would come across to score thanks to a wild pitch by Keys starter Radhames Liz, which put the Birds on top 3-2.

Two innings later the Pelicans bats got hot and essentially put the game out of reach. With one out RF Steven Doetsch and SS Jaime Trejo reached with back-to-back singles. 2B J.C. Holt then delivered an RBI single down the left field line, which brought Doetsch across to make the score 4-2. With runners at the corners CF Matt Young came through with a two-run double to left, giving the Birds a commanding 6-2 lead. The double gave Young the team lead in two-baggers with 22.

Atilano (W, 4-7) tossed all seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits, while walking one and fanning two in the complete-game victory. It was Atilano's 2nd complete game effort this year. Liz (L, 6-5) was chased by the Pelicans after lasting just two innings in which he allowed three runs on three hits.

The Pelicans were led at the plate by Loadenthal who went 2-4 with a homer and a stolen base, while Holt finished game one 2-4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. Young, Jurich, Doetsch, and Trejo each added a hit in the win.

Game two saw the Keys leap out to a 2-0 lead for the second straight game. In the bottom of the third the Keys pushed across two runs highlighted by a a fielder's choice RBI from C Brian Bock and a sacrifice fly RBI courtesy of SS Jonathan Tucker to go ahead 2-0.

The Pelicans pulled to within one run, 2-1, when Jurich smacked an RBI single to score Pope who reached the base paths with a one-out walk.

With the momentum swinging into the Pelicans dugout the Keys quickly went back to work at the plate and extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the 4th inning. RBI singles knocked by Delgado and 2B Tripper Johnson pushed across the runs.

The Keys added two more in the bottom of the 5th with a former Pelican doing the damage. LF Carlos Duran, who played for the Pelicans in `03, `04, and `05, drove in a run with a double to left field which gave the Keys a 5-1 lead. Duran would later score on a ground out to third by Reimold, which made it 6-1.

In the top of the 6th, the Pelicans didn't go away and Jurich struck again, this time with a solo home run over the right field fence, his 5th of the year and his 4th in his last six games to pull the Birds to within four, 6-2, but that's as close as the Pelicans would get.

Pelicans starter Kelvin Villa (L, 5-3) took the loss after giving up six runs on six hits in five innings. Villa got off to a hot start, striking out four of the first six batters he faced, but cooled down late in the loss. He finished with six K's total. Reliever Joey Devine hurled one inning of shut out relief. Keys starter Matt Bruback (W, 1-1) notched the win with a six inning performance that saw him allow just two runs on six hits in six innings.

Myrtle Beach was led offensively by Jurich who was 2-3 with a home run and knocked in both runs. Holt, Loadenthal, Trejo, and C Steve Pyzik collected the other four hits.

On Friday night the Pelicans take on the Frederick Keys at 7:00 pm in the series finale of the three-game set. Fans can listen to all of the action on ESPN Radio 93.9 FM, 93.7 FM, and 1050 AM "The Team," or on the Internet at myrtlebeachpelicans.com. The next Pelicans home game is Saturday, July 8th when the Birds kick-off a seven-game homestand against the Wilmington Blue Rocks at 7:02 pm. For tickets please call 843-918-6000 or purchase tickets online at myrtlebeachpelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from July 6, 2006


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