Blue Rocks turn the tide, win Game Two of season series opener

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (APRIL 10, 2015) - After an exciting Opening Day win, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, fell to the Wilmington Blue Rocks at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark by an 8-3 final score on Friday night.

Despite Birds' lead-off men reaching base safely in five of nine innings, Myrtle Beach (1-1) was stymied on a number of occasions, falling behind 6-0 before scoring its first run in the fifth. After catcher Ben Carhart doubled to left to begin the frame, and a Shawon Dunston Jr. single set up Daniel Lockhart's sacrifice fly to centerfield, putting the Pelicans on the board, 6-1.

Pelicans starting pitcher Daury Torrez (0-1) struck out five Blue Rocks (1-1), yet allowed six earned runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs in the early going. Wilmington centerfielder Bubba Starling delivered the latter of the long balls in the third inning, sneaking a three-run homer over the left field wall that barely ticked off the edge of the glove of Pelicans left fielder Mark Zagunis. Torrez did collect five strikeouts in his 4 2/3 innings on the mound, but was handed the loss.

The Birds flashed a bit of local and international flare as Coastal Carolina University alumnus Josh Conway relieved Torrez with 1 1/3 innings of work, surrendering two earned runs and three hits. Cuban left-hander Gerardo Concepcion followed with two hitless innings, before Tayler Scott, the first South African-born player in Pelicans history, made his debut. Scott hurled one inning of shutout baseball, striking out a pair of Blue Rocks.

Blue Rocks starter, left-hander Cody Reed (1-0), outlasted Torrez by a hair, pitching into the sixth inning and earning the win before right-handed reliever Luke Farrell worked a four-inning save. Farrell recorded all seven of his strikeouts in his final three innings on the mound.

Carhart led off the ninth with a hit by pitch, and the Pelicans scratched a pair of late runs across the plate. However, they were unable to climb back into the contest however.

Alberto Mineo, the first Italian-born player to don a Pelicans uniform, singled in his first at-bat of the season, a pinch hit knock to right field. He later scored on a double by left fielder Jacob Hannemann. Farrell would then close the door with his final strikeout to seal the Blue Rocks's 8-3 victory, their first of the season.

The opening home stand continues on Friday with another 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Right-hander Paul Blackburn (0-0, -.-- ERA) is the scheduled starter for Myrtle Beach, as Wilmington counters with right-hander Alec Mills (0-0, -.--ERA). The game can be heard live on 1450 WRNN-AM ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m. The game will also air along with live streaming video on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

Saturday night is also the first in the Strike Out Cancer Series: Spit Seeds Not Tobacco Night presented by the American Cancer Society, featuring a sunflower seed giveaway. It is also an Embrace Veterans Saturday, presented by Embrace Hospice, and Locals Appreciation Saturday courtesy of Sparks Toyota. The night also features an East Coast Pyrotechnics Fireworks Extravaganza.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.