Pelicans swat Nats
August 31, 2005 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release
MYRTLE BEACH, SC- On Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the heat index reached 105 degrees, but that wasn't the only thing that was hot. The Pelicans bats were sizzling hot as the Birds pounded out a season-high 19 hits against the Potomac Nationals and took game two of the four-game series, 11-3.
Myrtle Beach sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the 1st inning and manufactured five runs on seven hits, leaping out to a sizable early lead. Pelicans LF Carl Loadenthal kick-started the marathon inning with a lead-off single and then proceeded to steal his 16th base of the season to get into scoring position. Loadenthal would then come across the plate with the first run of the night when CF Steven Doetsch delivered an RBI single up the middle, making the score 1-0. After another single from C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, RF Matt Esquivel came through with his team-leading 81st RBI of the season on a single to left field, scoring Doetsch to give the Pelicans a 2-0 advantage. Later in the inning, Saltalamacchia came across the dish on a passed ball, and SS Michael Rozema added an RBI single, which extended the lead to 5-0.
Potomac chipped away at the Pelicans lead in the top of the 3rd inning with two runs. Nationals 1B Josh Whitesell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded making the score 5-1. A batter later, DH Salomon Manriquez pulled the Nats even closer with a sacrifice fly RBI to centerfield, bringing the score to 5-2. In the top of the 4th Potomac plated another run, this time on an RBI single courtesy of C Jason Belcher, which cut the Pelicans lead to 5-3.
The Myrtle Beach offense went back to work in the bottom of the 4th inning and scored a pair of runs, highlighted by an RBI single off the bat of Saltalamacchia, which gave the Pelicans a 7-3 lead.
The Birds put the game away in the bottom of the 6th and 7th innings when they produced two runs in each frame. In the 6th, a passed ball and a wild pitch allowed both Myrtle Beach runs to score. The 7th inning saw the Pelicans plate two more runs thanks to a couple of RBI doubles. After Rozema drew a one-out walk, 2B Willie James roped a line drive double into the right field corner, making the score 10-3. James then scored and extended the lead to 11-3 on an RBI double off the lumber of DH Diory Hernandez.
Myrtle Beach starter Jake Stevens (W, 10-8) earned the win after giving up three runs on four hits in five innings of work. Stevens struck out nobody and walked four in the winning performance. Reliever Nate Pudewell slung three scoreless innings and Zach Schreiber finished the game with a perfect 9th. Potomac starter Jason Stevenson (L, 4-5) took the loss after giving up nine runs on 16 hits in 5.1 innings on the hill.
Every hitter in the Pelicans line-up recorded at least one hit and seven of the nine hitters recorded multi-hit performances. Hernandez led the charge going 4-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Schade finished the evening 3-5. Loadenthal, Doetsch, Saltalamacchia, Rozema and James each collected two hits to help the Birds offensive attack. The top four batters in the line-up (Loadenthal, Hernandez, Doetsch, Saltalamacchia) combined to go 9-20 with three RBI and 7 runs scored.
Tonight (Thursday, September 1st) the Pelicans take on the Potomac Nationals in game three of the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:02 pm with the gates opening up at 6:02 pm. Tickets are available by calling 843-918-6000 or by ordering online at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com. It's the final Thirsty Thursday of the year with $1 beer specials flowing from 6 pm - 8 pm in the Bud Light Pavilion. The Pavilion will also have television's set up for fans to watch the USC vs. UCF College Football season opener. The Pelicans are in the midst of their final homestand of the season with just 5 games left! Get your tickets now, it's your last chance to see the 2005 Pelicans.
Carolina League Stories from August 31, 2005
- Rocks sweep a pair in Salem - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Pelicans swat Nats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Keys clinch Carolina League North Second Half Crown with 19-8 victory over Lynchburg - Frederick Keys
- Hurricane Katrina relief effort at Pfitzner Stadium - Potomac Nationals
- Blue Rocks resume game tonight - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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