Herrera Heroics Lift Pelicans in Ninth Again
After leading early 3-1, the Pelicans faced a 5-4 deficit in the top of the ninth. Jake Skole led the frame off with a single back up the middle. He advanced to second base on a groundout by Santiago Chirino. Josh Richmond then flied out to deep left field for the second out of the frame. Edwin Garcia then quickly fell into a two-strike whole against Dan Dickerson, but battled back to earn a walk and put two men aboard.
With two on and two out, still trailing by a run, Teodoro Martinez grounded to shortstop, but Carolina's Ronny Rodriguez threw low to first base and Jesus Aguilar couldn't scoop it, allowing Skole to score and the game to continue tied at five.
Odubel Herrera, the hero from the night before, then came through again. After homering in the ninth to win Thursday, Herrera doubled to the gap in left, scoring both Garcia and Martinez for the 7-5 lead. Ben Henry then came out of the bullpen, sitting the Mudcats down in order in the ninth inning for his first save.
Myrtle Beach had gotten out to a quick start in the game, scoring a run in each of the first three innings. But Carolina had early answers and the game was tied at three in the third inning. It stayed that way until Carolina went in front in the sixth on an RBI single from Delvi Cid. The Birds answered immediately, tying the game at four with a bases loaded walk to Josh Richmond the next inning.
Carolina thought it had the game sealed in the eighth, when Carlos Moncrief hit his second homerun of the year, a bender around the rightfield foul pole. That made it 5-4 heading into the ninth.
The win is Myrtle Beach's third last at-bat win of the season and the second in as many nights. The Pelicans are now 8-6 on the year. Reliever Ben Rowen earned his second win while Dickerson took his second loss. Tomas Telis and Jake Skole both had three hit nights, bringing the team's total to 11 this year. Jared Hoying also reached base safely on a walk and hit by pitch. Hoying's on-base streak is now at 19 games dating to last season, longest in the Carolina League. Carolina committed five errors in the game.
The Pelicans look to secure the series win Saturday at 6:15. Wilmer Font throws against Brett Brach. Radio coverage starts at 6:00 on FOX Sports 1050, 101.9 and online at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com or with your TuneIn Radio App.