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Pelicans Win Fifth Straight; Davis Earns Sixteenth Save in 4-2 Success

July 24, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release


After defeating the Explorers 4-2 on Friday night, the Pelicans extended their winning streak to five games. Jason Navarro was strong as the Pelicans' starter, earning his first win of the year while Chase Burch drove in three runs.

The game took a pitcher's duel pattern through four innings before the Pelicans scored the first runs of the game in the top of the fifth. With two out, Adam Darby singled and so did Antoin Gray. Francisco Leandro walked to load the bases, and Chase Burch took advantage of the situation, stroking a single that plated Darby and Gray as the Pelicans took a 2-0 lead.

Sioux City cut the lead to one with a run in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Derek Schermerhorn on a sacrifice fly. Schermerhorn led off the frame with a single, moving up to scoring position by stealing second. On the steal, the throw went into the outfield, and Schermerhorn took third as well. Nick McCoola lifted a fly ball foul in deep right field, and Darby elected to trade an out for a run, making the catch and allowing Schermerhorn to come home.

Pensacola added insurance in the seventh, finding Darby on first after an error by the first baseman. He stole second and scored when Chase Burch batted in his third run of the night after hitting a single.

The Pels added another run in the eighth. Kevin Reynolds collected his first hit as a Pelican and celebrated by stealing second base. Luis Guance knocked him in with a single and the Pelicans led 4-1 heading into the ninth.

Jason Navarro went seven strong innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out six and walking no one. He earned the win, but was supported by Ron Hill; Hill struck out one and allowed two hits en route to a scoreless eighth inning. The stage was set for Hunter Davis to collect his sixteenth save, which he did, but not without a little drama.

Justin Nelson started the bottom of the ninth by walking to first. After Davis struck out James Boone, Luis Figueroa walked as well, but was pinch run for by Brett Mieras. Jason Colson lifted a ball to centerfield that dropped in front of Leandro, but a quick throw to third retired Nelson on the force out. With Mieras at second and Colson at first and two out, Greg Stevens hit a single that scored Mieras and cut the Pelicans' lead in half. Davis persuaded Schermerhorn to ground out to third, and the Pelicans won 4-2.

Leandro went 2-4, and Burch went 2-5 with three RBI. Adam Darby finished the night 1-3 but scored half of the Pelicans' runs.

The Pelicans and Explorers meet on Saturday at 7:05 for the third game in this four-game series. The Pelicans will throw Dane DeValk against Sioux City's Trevor Fox. The game can be heard live on NewsRadio 1620, or online via SportsJuice.com.

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