Birds Bounce Back for 5-3 Victory over Mudcats

Myrtle Beach turned just three hits into five runs in the win

By Sam Weiderhaft

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans evened the series with their second win of the week over the Carolina Mudcats 5-3 on Friday night. It moved the Pelicans to a 38-17 record while the Mudcats dropped to 30-25. With a win by the Charleston RiverDogs, the Pelicans remained tied for the top spot in the Carolina League South Division standings.

Myrtle Beach struggled for hits with only three for the night. Kevin Alcantara (1-5, HR, 2 RBI) provided the big bop with a two-run homer in the fourth inning for his seventh of the season. James Triantos (1-5, 3B, RBI) brought home a run with a triple in the fifth.

With seven strikeouts across his five innings of work, Porter Hodge (4-1) earned the win with an earned run given up off just two hits and a walk. Alfredo Zarraga took his first career save with six strikeouts against 11 batters faced in just his second outing with the Pelicans.

Offensively, the Mudcats were led by Eduardo Garcia (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) with a solo homer in the sixth. Jackson Chourio (1-4, HR, RBI) also hit a solo shot in the eighth inning.

Five different pitchers threw in the game with starter Carlos Rodriguez (2-2) taking the loss with three earned runs over four innings off a hit and three walks.

The first run of Friday’s game came in the bottom of the third inning on an infield single to third by Garcia to bring in Jose Sibrian.

The Pelicans rallied for three runs in the top of the fourth, led by Alcantara’s two-run home run to right field with one out to give Myrtle Beach a 2-1 lead. After walking to get on base, Matt Warkentin scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch by Rodriguez.

One more came in the fifth for the Pelicans as Kevin Made drew a two-out walk and Triantos cashed in with a triple to right field for a 4-1 Birds advantage.

Garcia brought in his second run of the evening with his solo shot to left field with one out in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2.

With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Made lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Reginald Preciado as the Pelicans went up 5-2.

Chourio made some late noise with his two-out solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to left-center to bring the Mudcats within two. Carolina left the tying run at the plate as Sibrian grounded out with a runner on base to end the game.

Myrtle Beach and Carolina will square off for Saturday night baseball at 5:00 p.m.