CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Wieland Dominates in Rubber Game

Published on May 4, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


WOODBRIDGE, VA - After a win like Tuesday's 20-6 drubbing over Potomac, the common refrain is that they should've saved some runs for the next game. Joe Wieland made sure that three would be more than plenty on Wednesday, tossing six shutout innings of two-hit ball with a season-high 13 strikeouts in the Pelicans' 3-0 win over the Potomac Nationals.

Wieland hit Eury Perez to start the game, then set down 13 in a row, nine on strikes, to take a no-hitter into the fifth. With one out in that inning, J.P. Ramirez hit a pop-up in front of the plate that fell between Wieland and catcher Vinny DiFazio, resulting in a bizarre double for Potomac's first hit of the game.

Myrtle Beach got on the board in the top of the fifth against P-Nats' starter Trevor Holder. Jared Prince doubled to extend his hitting streak to seven, then with two away, Jared Bolden knocked a single to snap the deadlock.

Things got crazy in the top of the sixth. Leury Garcia beat out a grounder to first, and the call from base umpire Aaron Roberts drew the ire of Holder and the first baseman Steven Souza. The ensuing argument got Holder (1-3) ejected from the game and he was replaced by Drew Weaver.

Weaver retired the first two batters he faced, but he couldn't close the door. He walked Jared Hoying, then plunked DiFazio to load the bases. That brought up Prince, who worked a walk to force in a run to make it 2-0.

Wieland (2-2) gave up another infield single in the bottom of the sixth, but picked up two more strikeouts as he finished his night with 13 without walking a batter.

The 13 strikeouts were one shy of both a career-high and the Pelicans record. Joe had whiffed 14 on August 3 of last season against Visalia while pitching for Bakersfield. Myrtle Beach has had two 14-strikeout games, one by Kyle Davies on June 12, 2004 in Kinston with the other from Julio Teheran in Frederick last May 31.

Joe Ortiz worked scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth in relief of Wieland before giving way to Johan Yan, who walked leadoff hitter Destin Hood before retiring the final three hitters to record his second save.

For the second straight series, the Pelicans bounced back from a first-game loss to win the final two games to take the series.

The Birds head to Salem for their long-awaited first meeting with the first-place Red Sox on Thursday night. With Salem's 5-1 loss on Wednesday afternoon in Kinston, the Pelicans moved to within a game in the Southern Division with the victory. Right-hander Ryan Kelly goes for Myrtle Beach in the opener against Salem righty Ryan Pressly. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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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Carolina League Stories from May 4, 2011


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