CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Sloppy sixth upends Pelicans in Frederick

Published on June 12, 2015 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


FREDERICK, MD - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, committed three errors in a five-run sixth inning, as they dropped 7-4 to the Frederick Keys in the series finale at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium on Thursday night. Mark Zagunis doubled twice in the losing effort.

Already up 2-1 in the sixth inning, Frederick (29-31) put their first three runners on against Pelicans starter Paul Blackburn, who had allowed just two runs and four baserunners, all on hits, through five innings. After Jeff Kemp laced a triple down the left field line, Tucker Nathans drew a walk. With men at the corners, Daniel Lockhart threw home on a ground ball off the bat of Brenden Webb, but Kemp was safe and the throw kicked away from Caratini. The throwing error allowed Nathans to take third. An RBI double from Chance Sisco put the Keys up 4-1 and spelled the end of the night for Blackburn, who left two on for Michael Heesch.

Both inherited runners scored off Heesch, who had not allowed an inherited to cross home all year (previously 8-for-8). The first man he faced, Drew Dosch, reached when Jacob Rogers failed to field his ground ball and an errant throw to first from Rogers allowed Webb to trot home from third. The two-error play extended Frederick's lead to 5-1. The Keys tacked on two more runs on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.

In total, Frederick put five across, three earned, in the inning on just two hits, three walks, and three errors. Blackburn's line closed after five-plus innings with a career-high six runs allowed and a career-high-tying five earned runs surrendered. He allowed six hits and a walk and stuck out two.

That put the game out of reach for Myrtle Beach, who had scored first for the fourth time in the four-game series. The Pelicans (35-24) singled three times and walked once to begin the second inning against southpaw starter Luis Gonzalez. The bases loaded RBI single from Kevin Brown, however, provided the only Pelicans run until the seventh inning. Gonzalez scattered two doubles and two walks over the rest of his 5 1/3 innings of work, allowing just the one run, earned, on five hits and three walks. He fanned three.

Down 7-1, Myrtle Beach got a run back without a hit against reliever Jon Keller. Trey Martin was hit to open the inning, took second on an error, moved to third on a fly ball to deep center field, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Pin-Chieh Chen.

Despite two walks in the eighth, the Birds failed to put a run up on the board, as Cody Wheeler came on to get the final two outs and to strand the two men. Wheeler ran into trouble in the ninth, however. The Pelicans opened the frame with a double from Zagunis, a run-scoring single from Chen, and a sharp single out of Chesny Young. Victor Caratini then reached on an infield single, loading the bases for Jacob Rogers as the tying run with the club down 7-3.

Rogers proceeded to hit into a 4-3 double play, bringing a run across, but putting the Pelicans one out away from defeat. Carlos Penalver struck out swinging for the final out.

Blackburn (4-3) suffered the loss, while the opposing starter Gonzalez (4-5) picked up the win.

Josh Conway worked a perfect eighth inning, including a strikeout, in front of hometown fans for the first time in his professional career. Conway hails from Smithburg, Maryland, just 27 miles from Frederick.

With the fifth inning double, Zagunis extended his league-best 29-game road on-base streak.

With quick four-game road trip over, the Pelicans head home to host the Lynchburg Hillcats for the first in a three-game series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Myrtle Beach turns to Tyler Skulina (2-4, 3.75 ERA), while the Hillcats will place Michael Peoples (4-3, 6.94 ERA) on the mound in their first trip to the Grand Strand this season.

Friday will be Ladies Night, presented by Star 92.1 and 707 Indoor Shooting Range, with half-price wine from 6:00â=80'8:00 p.m. It will also be the first "Thirsty Friday," with $1.00 Bud and Bud Light drafts from 6:00â=80'8:00 p.m., as well as Pet Friendly Weekend, courtesy of Pedigree.

The game can be heard live, presented by Courtyard Myrtle Beach at Barefoot Landing, on 1450 WRNN-AM ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Pregame Show at 6:40 p.m. ET.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail info@myrtlebeachpelicans.com, or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 12, 2015


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