Kinston, N.C. - The Down East Wood Ducks scored four unanswered runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 5-4, taking a two games to none series lead, with a chance at their first sweep of the season on Wednesday.
Kinston, N.C. - The Down East Wood Ducks scored four unanswered runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 5-4, taking a two games to none series lead, with a chance at their first sweep of the season on Wednesday.
Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, Yanio Perez led off the frame with a 12-pitch walk to set the tone for the inning. Yonny Hernandez would also draw a free pass two batters later. Eric Jenkins then ripped a two run triple to the gap in right-center to trim the deficit to just one against reliever Brendan King . He was then lifted for Ben Hecht (loss, 0-1), who gave up a walk to Leody Taveras in his second batter faced. Taveras then stole second to put two in scoring position, and Anderson Tejeda came through with a double down the right field line to put the Woddies in front, 5-4.
Down East (4-2) initially got out to a 1-0 advantage in the third. Perez singled to lead off the inning, and after Down East loaded the bases, a wild pitch from starter Luis Lugo brought Perez home. Lugo worked five innings giving up a run on five hits, he walked one and struck out six, but did not factor in the decision.
Down East starter Jason Bahr didn't give up a run in four innings despite having traffic on the bases in every frame. He allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out three in his first start of the season.
Myrtle Beach (1-5) struck for all four runs in the fifth through seventh innings. Wladimir Galindo led off the fifth with a single off of Sal Mendez and game into score later in the inning as D.J. Wilson doubled to left to tie the score at 1-1.
Then in the sixth the Pelicans took the lead for the first time. Luke Reynolds and Kevonte Mitchell tallied back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, and then both scored on an infield single from Aramis Ademan , where Tejeda was unable to get the ball out of his glove.
The Pelicans added a run in the seventh against Josh Advocate (win, 1-0). After The Wood Duck reliever walked the first two men in the inning, Mitchell lined a two-out single to score Jimmy Heron, making it 4-1. Advocate would pick up the win however, working 1.2, giving up a run on one hit, he walked two and struck out one.
Demarcus Evans (save, 1) picked up the final out in the eighth inning on his way to a four out save. Despite walking the first two hitters he faced in the ninth, he was able to bounce back and retire the next three men to seal the win.
It was the third consecutive victory for the Wood Ducks, who do so for the second straight day in comeback fashion.
The Woodies will send righty Tyler Phillips (0-0, 0.00) to the mound as they go for the sweep tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., on Education Day, presented by Lenior Community College. He will be opposed by Pelican right-hander Alex Lange (0-1, 10.81). The broadcast will begin at 10:50 a.m. on 960AM The Bull and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. For tickets and more information visit woodducksbaseball.com or call (252) 686-5172.
