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CarL Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Three Home Runs Power Pelicans to 7-3 Victory Over Nationals

June 15, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The power was on full display at Pelicans Ballpark as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans took down the Fredericksburg Nationals 7-3 on Thursday night. With the win and the Columbia Fireflies' loss, the Pelicans increased their lead to three games in the division with six to play, and their magic number was lowered to four. Myrtle Beach has a 36-24 record on the season while the Nationals stand at 28-30.

After not hitting a home run in the first two games, the Pelicans smashed three big flies from Moises Ballesteros (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Rafael Morel (2-3, HR, 2 RBI), and Felix Stevens (1-4, HR, RBI, BB). Miguel Pabon (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB) also added an RBI double as the Pelicans totaled 12 hits for the second time this week.

Koen Moreno (2-2) tossed 3 1/3 innings in relief with just one earned run off two hits and a walk while tying his career-high with five strikeouts. Starter Marino Santy allowed two runs, one earned in his 4 2/3 frames with five strikeouts.

For the second night in a row, the Nationals were held to all singles as they collected five hits. Armando Cruz (0-3, RBI) and Cortland Lawson (0-4, RBI, BB) each accounted for the only two RBI of the game.

It was a rough night on the mound for starter Luke Young (0-2) as he failed to make it out of the first inning after allowing the solo home run to Ballesteros. He was pulled after two outs for Jose Atencio, who allowed five earned runs across 3 1/3 frames off seven hits while collecting five strikeouts.

With two outs and nobody on in the first, Ballesteros took a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for his eighth home run of the season to put the Birds up 1-0.

Myrtle Beach hung a crooked number in the bottom of the second as three runs came across. Pabon started it with a double to deep center with runners on first and second to score one. Reivaj Garcia followed with an RBI groundout to second that brought the run home from third. Later on with two outs, Ballesteros lined a single to right-center to score Pabon from third to increase the lead to 4-0.

The runs kept coming in the bottom of the third as Morel hit a two-run home run to left-center for his third of the year and extended the lead to 6-0.

Fredericksburg planted a comeback in the fifth and sixth innings. With the bases loaded, Lawson drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Nationals on the board. Daylen Lile followed with a ground ball back to Santy on the mound. His throw to first sailed high as another run came in to bring the deficit down to four.

Another run came home in the top of the sixth as Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to left field with a runner on third to cut the lead in half at 6-3.

After being quiet for three innings, Stevens lifted his 12th home run of the season over the wall in left center with one out in the bottom of the seventh to bring the lead back to 7-3.

Scarlyn Lebron struck out two in the top of the ninth to secure the victory.

The Pelicans and Nationals will meet for the fourth game of the week on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from June 15, 2023


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