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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Ross Brilliant in 2-1 Pelicans Win

May 31, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


FREDERICK, MD - Robbie Ross has often been overshadowed by Pelicans rotation mates Joe Wieland and Robbie Erlin this season. He put himself in the spotlight tonight with a phenomenal game in Frederick. He held the Keys to an unearned run on three singles in eight innings as the Birds pulled out a 2-1 win. Zach Zaneski's two-run single in the top of the first provided the winning margin.

Like yesterday's first inning, Myrtle Beach got on the scoreboard. Unlike yesterday, they made it hold up. Jared Bolden singled with one out in the opening frame and Ryan Strausborger followed with a walk against Keys starter Nick Haughian. Two batters later, the runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. That would loom large because Zach Zaneski singled to bring home both runners and give the Pelicans a 2-0 lead.

That was all Ross needed tonight. He allowed a one-out single in the first to Bobby Stevens, but retired the next 12 batters to cruise into the fifth. The Keys crept closer in the fifth. Adam Donachie and Dale Mollenhauer singled with one out before Brian Ward chopped a grounder through the legs of Santiago Chirino to bring home Donachie with the first Frederick run. Chirino argued with base umpire Thomas Newsom that the runner Mollenhauer interfered with his attempt to field the ball to no avail.

With the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at second, Ross induced a grounder back to the mound by Steven Bumbry to keep the 2-1 lead.

Haughian (1-3) pitched well for the rest of his outing. He allowed only the two first-inning runs on four hits in four and two-thirds innings. The lefty spot starter walked three and struck out two. Kenny Moreland and Clay Schrader shut out the Pelicans the rest of the way in relief.

After the run-scoring error in the fifth, Ross set down the final 11 batters he faced to get through the eighth. The Nicholasville, KY native equaled a season-high with seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter in eight innings of work. Ross (6-1) ties a career-high with eight innings pitched, he also went eight on June 1 last season with low-A Hickory. He becomes the first Carolina Leaguer to reach six wins in 2011.

With Ross at 96 pitches, Jason Wood turned to Ryan Kelly for the final three outs in the ninth. Kelly got the first two quickly, striking out Stevens before Kipp Schutz grounded out. He hit Tyler Townsend before a Tyler Kolodny single moved pinch-runner Michael Rooney to third carrying the tying run.

Kelly buckled down to freeze Adam Donaghie on a vicious curveball to record the game-ending strikeout and his seventh save of the season. The win gives Myrtle Beach a mark of 31-20, four and a half games ahead of Kinston and Salem in the Carolina League Southern Division.

The third game of the series is tomorrow night as right-hander Wilfredo Boscan goes for the Pelicans against Frederick ace Bobby Bundy. After a weekend series in Lynchburg, the Pelicans return home for a four-game series against Winston-Salem starting Monday, June 6. 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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