Pelicans split twin bill with Blue Rocks

WILMINGTON, Del. (May 7, 2016) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans shut out Wilmington 4-0 in game one of a doubleheader Saturday, before the Blue Rocks returned the favor 2-0 in the second contest of the twin bill at Frawley Stadium.

In game one, Pelicans (15-13) starter Erick Leal (3-2) only allowed one man to reach second base all evening, with no Blue Rock (8-20) advancing further. Leal fired 5.1 shutout innings, scattering four hits without walking a batter to go along with four strikeouts for the win.

The only time Myrtle Beach was truly in trouble was the sixth, with the Pelicans ahead 3-0 at that point. Roman Collins and Corey Toups each singled to begin the inning before Leal fanned Alfredo Escalera. The Birds brought on David Berg, who induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Austin Bailey to end the threat.

Berg then fanned three in the bottom of the seventh to earn his fourth save.

The game was scoreless through three innings. However, in the fourth, Shawon Dunston Jr. and Daniel Lockhart, who would finish a homer shy of the cycle, each singled with one out. Two batters later, Wilmington reliever Zach Lovvorn (0-5) yielded an RBI single to Charcer Burks before his own error on a pickoff attempt allowed Lockhart to race in, making it 2-0.

Lockhart started his own rally in the sixth, doubling with two outs and stealing third base. Cael Brockmeyer then picked up his fifth RBI in the last five games with a base hit to plate Lockhart.

The Pelicans tacked on another insurance run in the seventh. A Rashad Crawford walk, Gleyber Torres single and Ian Happ walk loaded the bases with no one out. Two batters later, Jason Vosler lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Birds a 4-0 advantage.

Blue Rocks starter Pedro Fernandez (3-1) was dominant in game two. The right-hander was perfect through 4.1 innings and did not allow any Pelican past second base. He gave up just three hits in seven innings without walking a batter and eight strikeouts to record his first career perfect game.

Wilmington got to Myrtle Beach starter Tommy Thorpe (2-2) early. Corey Toups singled to lead off the bottom of the first. Two batters later, Wander Franco doubled him in to make it 1-0.

With the same score in the bottom of the fourth, Brandon Downes began the inning with a walk. After a walk and fly out on a spectacular catch at the wall by Charcer Burks, Robert Pehl doubled in Downes to make it 2-0.

Myrtle Beach and Wilmington wrap up their series Sunday at 1:35 p.m. with Pelicans RHP Jake Stinnett (2-0, 1.99 ERA) going against Blue Rocks LHP Matt Tenuta (2-1, 4.29 ERA). Coverage begins at 1:20 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

The 2016 season is the 18th season for the Pelicans franchise and second as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last five seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last five years and the best in the Carolina League for five straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].