Birds finish first half with 41st win

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (JUNE 21, 2015) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, celebrated a 4-1 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Father's Day Sunday in the 2015 first-half season finale. Every batter in the Pelicans starting lineup collected a hit in the ballgame, and the top three of Chesny Young, Pin-Chieh Chen and Jeimer Candelario each had two knocks in the win.

During the seventh inning stretch, Ronnie Hribar, owner of Longbeard's Bar and Grill in Carolina Forest, participated in the second-annual "Two Knuckle Challenge." As a promotion for prostate cancer awareness, Hribar sang "Take Me out to the Ballgame" while receiving an in-game prostate exam in front of the crowd of 5,839. The promotion was made famous by Pelicans President and General Manager Andy Milovich in 2014.

For the Hillcats (33-37), designated hitter Luigi Rodriguez spurred the offense with a first-inning, lead-off triple to the right-center field wall. Center fielder Clint Frazier walked in the next at-bat and left fielder LeVon Washington knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI fielder's choice groundout to first base.

Pelicans starter Daury Torrez rebounded after that, dismissing 16 of the final 20 batters he faced. The right-hander finished with six innings pitched, striking out five along the way with four walks. He allowed just the one run, earned.

The Pelicans (41-28) rallied back in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs to take the lead. Chesny Young, batting in the lead-off spot for the second time since joining the Pelicans on May 13, drew a walk from starting pitcher Dace Kime. Pin-Chieh Chen followed with a single into right field before third baseman Jeimer Candelario pulled the game-tying single to right. Two batters later, Victor Caratini gave the Birds a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Chen led off the third with a glancing single off of Kime's glove. Candelario then singled in front of a  Jacob Rogers walk to load the bases, and Carlos Penalver bounced an RBI single into left field to move the Pelicans in front 3-1.

Rogers lifted off with one out in the seventh inning, lining his team-leading ninth home run of the year over the right-field wall to extend the score to 4-1.

Torrez (5-5) found relief in right-hander Fernando Cruz, who pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings while striking out one and only allowing one hit.

In the ninth, right-hander Jasvir Rakkar saved his ninth game of the season. Rakkar allowed a hit and walked a man, but struck out Mike Papi swinging before second baseman Joe Sever bounced into a ground ball double play to end the ball game. Rakkar is now tied for the league lead in saves.

Kime (2-3) fired five innings in the loss, surrendering three earned runs on eight base hits. He struck out three and also walked three. Right-hander Clayton Cook pitched two innings, but was touched up for an earned run on three hits. Fellow righty Robbie Aviles pitched one scoreless inning and allowed just one hit.

Heading into the three-day all-star break, the Pelicans will have four representatives at the Carolina vs. California League All-Star Game on Tuesday. Candelario will join Duane Underwood Jr., Jonathan Martinez, and Mark Zagunis along with pitching coach David Rosario and assistant coach Chris Gutierrez in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., for the game. First pitch in the midsummer contest from LoanMart Field, home of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Class A-Advanced, Los Angeles Dodgers), is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 7:35 p.m. PT / 10:35 p.m. ET. Tickets for the 2015 Carolina-California League All-Star Game are still available and include entry into Fan Fest and the Home Run Derby starting at 3:30 p.m. PT. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit rcquakes.com/allstargame or call (909) 481-5000.

The Birds return for the second half on Thursday, June 25, in a road game against the Carolina Mudcats. The first pitch from Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina, is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET. The Pelicans will hand the ball to right-hander Tyler Skulina (2-4, 3.05). The Mudcats' starter is yet to be announced.

The game 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 6:40 p.m. ET. The game will also air along with live streaming video on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

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.