CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Sweep K-Tribe with Two Shutouts

Published on May 11, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Carolina League Pitcher of the Week picked up right where he left off last Wednesday. Joe Wieland faced the minimum 21 batters in a seven-inning two-hit shutout, and Ryan Kelly followed with six shutout innings of his own as the Pelicans pulled out a doubleheader sweep of the Kinston Indians, 6-0 and 2-0.

After earning Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday and having his start pushed back due to rain on Tuesday, Wieland was once again outstanding for Myrtle Beach in the opener. He allowed a single to Tyler Holt on the first pitch of the game, but soon erased him on a 6-4-3 double play from Bo Greenwell. The righty retired 12 in a row before Abner Abreu singled with one out in the fifth. Wieland immediately induced a double play featuring a great turn by second baseman Santiago Chirino to end the inning.

Wieland (3-2) set down the final seven batters he faced to finish the abbreviated complete game, the first twirled by a Pelican this season. He struck out two and did not issue a walk for the fourth straight start, a span of 26 innings.

The Pelicans plated three runs in the third inning off starter T.J. House, all charged as unearned. Andres James reached on an error by third baseman Adam Abraham. Jared Hoying walked and after Mitch Hilligoss bunted the runners over, Ryan Strausborger singled in James for the game's first run. Mike Olt followed with a sacrifice fly, then House walked three straight, the last of which to Jared Prince brought in the final run of the frame.

House hung in until the sixth, when Myrtle Beach added three runs on an RBI single by Hoying and a two-run opposite-field double from Hilligoss. House (1-4) allowed six runs, three earned, in five and two-thirds innings, walking four and striking out two.

Ryan Kelly got the ball in the nightcap for the Birds and pitched his finest game of the year. The Hilton Head native tossed six shutout innings, his longest outing this season, allowing just three hits. Kelly (2-1) walked two and struck out four.

Brett Brach was shutting down the Pelicans offense in a duel with Kelly. He cruised into the fourth without allowing a run until Ryan Strausborger belted a two-run home run to left field to break a scoreless tie. Strausborger has hit all four of his homers this season during the Pelicans' two doubleheaders. Brach (3-2) went the distance in the tough-luck loss. The righty allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, walking two and striking out three.

Jason Wood didn't have to use the bullpen for 13 innings, but he called on Joe Ortiz for the final three outs in game two. The left-hander had a 1-2-3 inning, with two strikeouts sandwiching a spectacular diving play at shortstop by Leury Garcia. Ortiz picked up his second save of the year as the Pelicans moved to within a game of first-place Salem after the Red Sox fell in Wilmington 3-2.

The series finale between the Pelicans and the K-Tribe features a phenomenal pitching matchup. Lefty Robbie Erlin (2-1, 2.25 ERA) goes for Myrtle Beach against fellow southpaw Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 1.27) of Kinston. First pitch at BB&T Coastal Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 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 11, 2011


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