Mudcats take advantage of miscue to edge Birds

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (JUNE 4, 2015) - After a seventeen minute rain delay held back the start of Thursday's contest, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, dropped a 3-2 decision to the Carolina Mudcats at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Victor Caratini collected two RBI in the game while extending his hit-streak to seven games.

Carolina (24-26) rallied for the lead in the sixth inning on a series of close plays. With one out, second baseman Kieth Curcio hit a line drive into the right-center field gap. The ball kicked off of the glove of right fielder Mark Zagunis for an error, sending Curcio to third. Center fielder Sean Godfrey then tied the game when he blooped a double over shortstop with the infield drawn in, and left fielder Dustin Peterson gave the Mudcats a permanent 3-2 lead with an RBI single to left.

The contest remained 3-2 into the ninth, and Mudcats closer Cole Brocker pitched a perfect inning to record his first professional save.

Myrtle Beach (31-19) struck first, hopping out to a 1-0 lead when Caratini drew a bases loaded walk in the first inning. Zagunis began the game with a sharp single to right field, and Pin-Chieh Chen followed with a walk. Chesny Young then singled sharply up the middle, and after Caratini's go-ahead base on balls, Mudcats starter Yean Carlos Gil worked a strikeout and a ground out to escape the frame.

Mudcats catcher Jose Briceno tied the contest with a long solo home run to left field in the third inning, but Caratini once again gave the Birds the lead in the bottom of the frame. Young stroked a single to right field, and two batters later, Caratini clubbed a double into the left field corner to put the Pelicans on top 2-1.

The Mudcats bullpen shut the Pelicans out in the final four innings, allowing just one hit.

Pelicans starter Daury Torrez finished the sixth, but would not finish the game, as James Pugliese came on to pitch the seventh inning. Pugliese pitched two shutout frames, allowing a hit and striking out one.

Torrez (4-3) took his third loss of the season, completing six innings and tying a season-high six strikeouts. The righty walked two and allowed three runs, two earned, on four base hits, and has now pitched at least six innings in five of his nine starts.

Gil (1-8) picked up his first victory of the 2015 campaign. The left-hander worked five innings, allowing two earned runs on seven base hits, walking three and striking out three.

The series against the Mudcats continues with a doubleheader on Friday. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET. The Pelicans will hand the ball to right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. (5-1, 1.60) while Carolina sends righty Andrew Waszak (2-3, 2.82) to the mound. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Myrtle Beach has slated right-hander Paul Blackburn (4-2, 4.26) to start, and the Mudcats will counter with right-hander Seth Webster (1-1, 0.64) in the second game. Gates at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark open at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Friday's games can be heard live, presented by Courtyard Myrtle Beach at Barefoot Landing, 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 4:45 p.m. ET. The games will also air along with live streaming video on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

Friday will be Ernie Banks Tribute Night, with the team wearing custom pinstriped "Let's Play Two" jerseys for the first time this year. The tops will be worn for every Pelicans home doubleheader. To bid on one of the custom jerseys at auction, click here. 

Friday will also be Ladies Night, presented by Star 92.1, featuring half-priced wine from 6:00‒8:00 p.m. ET. It will also be Teacher Appreciation Night, presented by Sparks Toyota.

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.