CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Three-Run Eighth Propels Pelicans to Sweep

Published on June 9, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - With a chance to sweep their first three-game series since 2008, the Pelicans had their ace on the mound but a 2-0 deficit with four outs left to go. Earlier in the season, the Pelicans might have just chalked this one up to bad luck and absorbed yet another tough defeat. But this is not the same Pelicans ballclub. Cole Miles' two-out, two-run single off star closer Gregory Infante in the eighth inning capped a comeback that sent the Birds to a sweep of the first-place Winston-Salem Dash.

For 7 1/3 innings, the Pelicans might as well have left their bats in the dugout as Dash starter Terry Doyle was surgical in setting down the Pelicans lineup. After allowing a leadoff single to Miles in the top of the first inning, Doyle retired 17 Birds in a row before Dan Nelson's bloop single with one out in the seventh inning.

Brandon Short was in the middle of the Dash offense all night long, recording three of the seven Dash hits and scoring both Winston runs. In the sixth, former Braves farmhand Jon Gilmore laced a one-out single to right to score Short with the game's first run off Pelicans ace Randall Delgado who once again failed to get much run support in a worthy effort.

Delgado, who came into the game just 2-5 with a 2.50 ERA, allowed one earned run in six innings of work while striking out seven but found himself on the wrong end of a 1-0 score. Delgado's last two losses have been by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 so the lack of run support was unfortunately nothing new for the Panamanian righty.

The Dash added another run in the seventh off reliever David Francis (1-3) when slugger Seth Loman's slowly hit ground ball plated the second Dash run to give the visitors a seemingly insurmountable lead.

But the Pelicans put a chink in Doyle's armor in the eighth with some help from Doyle himself. After inducing a ground out to begin the inning, Jesus Sucre struck out swinging, but the third strike snuck past the catcher Jason Bour, allowing Sucre to reach safely. Back to back singles from Calvin Culver and Luis Sumoza loaded the bases for L.V. Ware who lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center to slice the Dash lead in half at 2-1.

On the fly ball, however, Dash centerfielder Justin Greene made an ill-advised throw to home plate allowing both runners to tag up and advance a base. With two out and two men in scoring position, it was time for Cole Miles to play the part of the hero as his ground ball through the right side of the infield off Gregory Infante (1-1) plated a pair of runs to give the Pelicans an unexpected 3-2 lead.

Paul Clemens came on in relief of Francis to pitch the ninth and picked up his first Carolina League save and give the Pelicans their first three-game sweep of the season.

For the Birds, it was their first three-game sweep since August 4-6, 2008 when the team swept the Kinston Indians in the midst of an 11-game winning streak. The Pelicans are now on their third three-game win streak of the season as the team heads to Kinston to take on their Southern Division rival in a four-game series.

The Birds will send phenom Julio Teheran (2-0, 1.04) to the hill to square off with the league's ERA leader in T.J. McFarland (6-1, 2.08) with first pitch coming at 7:00 PM.

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Carolina League Stories from June 9, 2010


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