CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Sluggish Bats, Shaky Defense Doom Pelicans In Opener

Published on August 27, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The nights and games are getting fewer and fewer for the four teams still in the mix for the Carolina League Southern Division second-half crown. As the Pelicans found out while falling from sole possession of second place to sole possession of last place after a Thursday night loss, games count more than would normally seem possible these days. Friday's series opener, then, wasn't what Myrtle Beach needed at the outset of yet another crucial Southern Division series.

Winston-Salem starter Joe Serafin turned his best outing at the Carolina League level, and the Dash capitalized on a second consecutive night of subpar Pelicans defense to jump out to an early five-run lead in an eventual 5-2 win at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem.

A night after allowing four unearned runs in a frustrating series finale loss to the Salem Red Sox at home in Myrtle Beach, the Pelicans' gloves let them down again in Friday's opener at Winston. Things got rolling for the first-place Dash early. With one out and a man on first in the second, Myrtle Beach starter Matt Crim, the Carolina League leader in double plays induced, got a ground ball to short from Kyle Shelton that had the makings of his 24th twin-killing ball of the season. Pelicans shortstop Mycal Jones, however, had trouble getting the ball out of his glove, and, when fumbling to get a solid grip, rushed an errant throw past second baseman Jordan Kreke into right field. Shelton and baserunner Jason Bour took up spots at first and third with the former coming home and the latter going to third on a Greg Paiml double one batter later. After Kenny Williams, Jr. flew out to center field to plate Shelton and give the Dash a 2-0 lead, Crim got another grounder to his middle infield. This time, however a redirected bounce off the mound made for another error, the second of the frame going charged to Kreke. Jose Martinez reached on the E4, and Paiml scored for Winston's third unearned run and a 3-0 lead.

In the third, it was much the same. Another would-be inning-ending double-play ball to third kicked off the glove of Pelicans third baseman Samuel Sime to allow Bour to reach and later score. Drew Garcia did the same, both runners touching home plate on a one-out double from Shelton, and the Dash grabbed a commanding 5-0 advantage after three. Of the five runs that Crim (7-10) allowed, only two went charged as earned.

The Pelicans put fairly consistent traffic on the basepaths against Serafin (2-4), but the southpaw worked out of trouble all evening. Myrtle Beach stranded multiple runners in three different innings from the first through sixth and did all its scoring in the fourth. After Gerry Rodriguez walked and Mike Jones doubled to put both men in scoring position kicking off the inning, the Pelicans used back-to-back outs to get them both home and cut the deficit to 5-2. Myrtle Beach would only get one two baserunners on via hit the rest of the way, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranding eight men as a team. Of the Pelicans' four total hits, three came from scorching hot first baseman Mike Jones who singled twice in addition to his fifth-inning double as part of a 3-for-3 day.

Tyson Corley (S, 9) retired the side in order with two strikeouts in a painless ninth for the save.

Saturday afternoon's middle game of this three-game set pits Pelicans right-hander Zeke Spruill (3-4, 5.26) against Winston righty Terry Doyle (6-8, 3.54) at 7:00.

The Pelicans return to Myrtle Beach for their final regular season series of 2010 on Saturday, September 4 against the Lynchburg Hillcats. For tickets, contact the Pelicans box office at (843)918-6000, (877)918-TIXX or stop by BB&T Coastal Field.

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Carolina League Stories from August 27, 2010


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