CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Potomac's late inning heroics sink Pelicans, 4-3

Published on April 9, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


WOODBRIDGE, VA - Chris Marrero's three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning erased a, 3-0, Pelicans lead as the Potomac Nationals stormed from behind to beat Myrtle Beach for the second straight night, 4-3.

With the Pelicans leading 3-0, closer Bret Butts relieved Bryan Dumesnil with two aboard in the eighth and induced a fly out from Ofilio Castro for the second out of the inning. But that led to Marrero, who had struggled to three prior strikeouts on the night. That history vanished along with the Pelicans lead as Marrero smashed a Butts' offering off the scoreboard high above the left-center field wall to tie the score, 3-3.

Butts returned in the ninth and recorded the first two outs before yielding back-to-back singles to Egardo Baez and Brian Peacock. When Butts walked Michael Martinez, the bases were loaded with two outs. Jemel Spearman followed and after a lengthy battle with Butts, lined a game-winning single to left-center field to give Potomac a walk-off, 4-3, win. Butts (0-1) was tagged with his first loss and blown save of the season.

Lost in Potomac's late-inning heroics was Pelicans right-hander Tommy Hanson. Hanson was again brilliant for the Pelicans. On the heels of his five hitless innings in the season opener, Hanson fired six scoreless innings allowing Potomac just one hit. Hanson walked two on the night, but fanned seven to up his league-leading total to 20 for the season.

The Pelicans jumped to the lead as they scored for the first time this season in the first inning. With one out, Travis Jones doubled down the left field line off of Potomac starter Adrian Alaniz. Jones promptly stole third, and came in to give the Pelicans a 1-0 lead on a Willie Cabrera groundout to the shortstop Spearman.

Myrtle Beach padded their lead with more help from Jones in the third inning as his two-run double scored Derrick Arnold and Gorkys Hernandez to put Myrtle Beach up, 3-0.

For the second straight night, the win went to a pitcher on a major league rehabilitation assignment. Washington Nationals' closer Chad Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the victory for Potomac. With the win, Potomac also claimed their first series win of the season by virtue of taking the first two contests in the three-game set.

The Pelicans will look to rebound in Thursday night's series finale, which will be contested at 7:05 PM at Pfitzner Stadium. RHP Deunte Heath (1-0, 1.80) will make the start for Myrtle Beach against RHP Jhonny Nunez (0-1, 7.71) for Potomac. The ballgame will end the Pelicans week-long season opening road trip.

Check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from April 9, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central