Birds best Machado and Keys

FREDERICK, MD. (APRIL 25, 2014) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, took the rubber game of their set with the Frederick Keys on Friday night 5-3. Victor Payano earned his first win with a season-high eight strikeouts and the team fanned a season-best 16 batters. Making his first rehab appearance for the Keys, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, and two runs scored.

The Pelicans opened the scoring in the second. Royce Bolinger was hit by a pitch from Parker Bridwell to lead off the inning. Preston Beck doubled, sending Bolinger to third base. With two outs and Zach Cone at the plate, Bridwell uncorked a wild pitch to score Bolinger and give the Pelicans a 1-0 lead.

Payano stranded two runners in the first and another pair in the second, but the Keys scratched across a run in the third. Machado tripled to lead off the inning, his second of three extra base hits off of Payano. He got Creede Simpson to ground out and then fanned Michael Burgess looking. With two down, Jason Esposito lifted a ball to shallow right field that landed in between second baseman Odubel Herrera and right fielder Nick Williams. The double tied the game at 1-1.  

The Pelicans retook the lead on a two-run double by Hanser Alberto in the fifth. After the Keys trimmed the lead to 3-2 on an RBI single from Lucas Herbst in the bottom half of the fifth, Myrtle Beach claimed their largest lead of the night with two runs in the sixth.

Joey Gallo clubbed a one-out double to right field to begin the sixth-inning rally. Royce Bolinger singled him home, collecting his 11th RBI in the last six games. Bolinger was caught stealing, and with two outs, the Birds scored on a walk, a single, and another Bridwell wild pitch to take a 5-2 lead.

Payano was relieved by Alexander Claudio in the sixth. Payano finished with a season-high five innings pitched and allowed two runs, both earned, on eight hits, a lone walk, and eight strikeouts. Claudio tossed three scoreless innings with six strikeouts, including one of Manny Machado, to keep the score at 5-2 entering the ninth.

Jose Leclerc came on for the save. He allowed a pinch hit home run to Zane Chavez but nailed down the victory, picking up his second save. Payano (1-1) earned the win, while Bridwell (0-3) suffered the defeat.

The Pelicans travel to Wilmington to take on the Blue Rocks for the first of four games on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Andrew Faulkner (1-0, 2.30 ERA) opposes Daniel Stumpf (0-3, 5.40 ERA). The game can be heard live on WRNN AM 1450 ESPN Myrtle Beach and on the TuneIn Radio App, with the Hampton Inn Pregame Show beginning at 6:45 p.m.

The next Pelicans home game on Thursday, May 1, when the Pelicans host the Frederick Keys for a four-game series. Season Seats, Mini Plans, Flex Books, and single game tickets are still available to see the Pelicans in 2014. For more information on tickets, please call (843) 918-6002, e-mail [email protected], visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, or visit the Pelicans box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.