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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Ross Hurls Pelicans to Series Victory

June 5, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


LYNCHBURG, VA - When the Myrtle Beach Pelicans need a win, they turn to Robbie Ross. Once again the southpaw delivered, pitching into the ninth inning as the Birds took the rubber game of their weekend set in Lynchburg, beating the Hillcats 5-3. The Pelicans got a home run from Santiago Chirino, the second of his career, and another homer from Mike Olt, his tenth of 2011.

Myrtle Beach struck early against former Pelican Matt Crim. Mitch Hilligoss beat out an infield single and went to third on a Ryan Strausborger single to put runners on the corners with one out. Olt lifted a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Hilligoss and put the Birds up 1-0.

They added another run in the third when Hilligoss singled again and scored on Strausborger's fifth triple of the season. The lead doubled in the fourth inning when Chirino's two-run homer gave the Pelicans a 4-0 advantage. Chirino hit his first professional home run last Sunday in Myrtle Beach.

The final Pelicans run came in the fifth. With two out and the bases empty, Olt faced a 3-0 count. Olt had the green light and when Crim grooved one, Olt hammered it deep over the left-center field wall for his tenth long ball of the season and a 5-0 Pelicans lead.

That would be all for Crim (1-3), who allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter in his first start against his former team.

Ross (7-1) breezed through the Hillcats lineup, but he did run into trouble in the fourth. Phil Gosselin led off with a single and Joey Terdoslavich doubled him to third. Joe Leonard singled in Gosselin for the Hillcats' first run against Ross in 15 innings this season. The lefty had thrown six shutout innings in both of his previous starts against Lynchburg.

Trailing 4-1, the Hillcats threatened for more when Gerry Rodriguez flew out to right for a potential sacrifice fly. Jared Prince unleashed a rocket throw from right to nail Terdoslavich after a terrific tag at the plate by catcher Vinny DiFazio.

Ross retired ten in a row in the later innings, but he was knocked out in the ninth three outs shy of a complete game. He walked Adam Milligan to start the inning and after Terdoslavich singled, Jason Wood called on reliever Kennil Gomez. After a groundout moved the runners over, Rodriguez singled home a pair to cut the lead to 5-3.

The runs were charged to Ross, bringing his final line to three runs allowed in eight innings. He walked two and struck out six in becoming the first Carolina Leaguer to reach seven wins. The Nicholasville, KY native was also the first to reach five and six wins.

Gomez ended the game by striking out two former Pelicans. Braeden Schlehuber and LV Ware went down swinging representing the tying run.

The win gives Myrtle Beach a series victory in Lynchburg and caps a 3-4 road trip. The Pelicans also got some help in the Carolina League standings, as Kinston fell 6-4 in Winston-Salem and Salem dropped their 22nd of their last 28 with a 6-3 loss in Frederick. The Pelicans lead the Southern Division by four and a half games with 14 to play before a first-half champion is crowned.

The Pelicans return home for a four-game series against Winston-Salem starting Monday when Myrtle Beach righty Wilfredo Boscan squares off against Joe Serafin of the Dash. 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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