Warthogs drop Tuesday's doubleheader opener

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Aug. 15, 2017) - Matt Rose recorded a pair of RBIs in his return from the disabled list, but the Myrtle Beach Pelicans edged Winston-Salem 3-2 in Tuesday's doubleheader opener at BB&T Ballpark.
For its final "Dash of the Past" game of the season, Winston-Salem (24-27, 48-73) donned commemorative Warthogs jerseys. The club posted a 1-2 record in its three Warthogs nights, with the victory coming via a Jameson Fisher walk-off single on June 22 against Buies Creek.

With the game tied at two in the sixth, Myrtle Beach (20-31, 63-58) manufactured the go-ahead run. Trent Giambrone coaxed a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a Jesse Hodges sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a Tyler Alamo single and scored on an Eddy Martinez sacrifice fly.
Over their final two offensive chances, the Warthogs tallied two singles and a walk, but they stranded men at the corners in the sixth and a runner at first in the seventh to drop their third consecutive game.
It was a see-saw game early on, with the Warthogs jumping out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a pair of returning players. Toby Thomas, who rejoined Winston-Salem from Double-A Birmingham before the game, leveled a one-out double to left and scored on a sacrifice fly from Rose, who had missed the last 10 games due to injury. 
Myrtle Beach plated a run in both the second and third innings on a double play and a Jesse Hodges RBI single, but the Warthogs bounced back to tie the game in the home half of the third on back-to-back doubles from Seby Zavala and Rose.
On the mound, Warthogs starter Bernardo Flores only lasted 1.2 innings due to an injury. Drew Hasler permitted one run in 1.1 innings before Louie Lechich (2-5) logged the next three innings, tying a career high. However, Lechich gave up the go-ahead run to suffer his fifth loss. In the seventh, newcomer Ryan Burr, whom the White Sox acquired from Arizona on Friday, worked around a single in his Winston-Salem debut.
Myrtle Beach starter Ryan Kellogg (4-7) worked into the sixth and gave up both of Winston-Salem's runs before Scott Effross finished the deal for his seventh save.
These two division rivals will conclude their doubleheader at approximately 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday at BB&T Ballpark. Winston-Salem will send Kelvis Valerio (3-3, 5.26 ERA) to the mound, while Myrtle Beach will counter with fellow right-hander Casey Bloomquist (3-5, 7.04 ERA). Coverage of Tuesday's nightcap will be available on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
This homestand concludes on Wednesday and Thursday with a pair of 7 p.m. games, with a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday on tap. For tickets, which start as low as $8 in advance, call (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.