Assad brilliant, bullpen struggles in 7-4 loss to Down East

KINSTON, N.C. (May 8, 2019) - Javier Assad allowed just one hit through six shutout innings for Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but the Down East Wood Ducks salvaged the final game of the series with a seven-run seventh inning to win 7-4 on Thursday night at Grainger Stadium.

The Pelicans (12-22) jumped in front of the Wood Ducks (24-10) and took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Miguel Amaya in the third inning. Myrtle Beach added to the lead in the fourth when Kevonte Mitchell , Carlos Sepulveda and Zach Davis each collected RBI singles to extend the lead to 4-0.
Assad was on the top of his game on Thursday. The right hander fired six, shutout innings while only allowing one hit and striking out six. He was in line for the win until the seventh inning when the Woodies' bats came to life. 
Ryan Dorrow led off the inning with a single and after Brendan King (0-2) retired Diosbel Arias, Sam Huff doubled and Yohel Pozo singled home Dorow to put the Woodies on the board and make it 4-1. One batter later, Tyreque Reed made it 4-2 with an RBI single. 
After Yanio Perez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Yonny Hernandez reached on an infield single and two runs scored to knot the game at four runs each. 
The Woodies grabbed the lead on an RBI groundout from Leody Taveras that made it 5-4 Down East and Dorrow, who led off the inning, put the finishing touches on the frame with a two-run single that gave the Woodies a 7-4 advantage. 
Joe Kuzia (1-0) secured the win for Down East, while Alex Eubanks was credited for the save. The loss snapped Myrtle Beach's five-game winning streak.
Myrtle Beach will continue their six-game road trip on Friday night as they take on the Carolina Mudcats for the first game of a three-game set at 7:00 p.m. RHP Alex Lange (1-4, 13.50) will take the hill for the Birds against RHP Noah Zavolas (1-2, 2.65) for the Mudcats. Coverage starts at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast and the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Apps.
The 2019 season is the 21st season for the Pelicans franchise and fifth as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For tickets visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/tickets, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Box Office.
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. Since being acquired by a group led by Chuck Greenberg during the 2006 season, the Pelicans have repeatedly set team attendance records and become known as one of Minor League Baseball's most innovative and creative franchises. The team and its employees have been dedicated to making a difference in the Myrtle Beach community, specifically giving back over $2 million in donations, fundraising proceeds, in-kind services and community service since launching the Pelicans Play It Forward Community Initiative in 2013. TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in six of the last seven seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences and the best in the Carolina League for six of the past seven seasons. In June 2017, the Pelicans won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. On the field, the team has won four Mills Cup Championships, including claims to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and again in 2015 and 2016. The Pelicans have made 11 postseason appearances behind 13 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, second half of 2016 and first half of 2017. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or email [email protected]