Birds Drop Friday Night Contest to Fireflies 6-5

The series is now tied 2-2 entering Saturday

By Sam Weiderhaft

After a 40-minute rain delay that pushed the first pitch back, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell one run shy of the Columbia Fireflies with a 6-5 loss on Friday night. The loss dropped Myrtle Beach to a 68-38 record and 21-19 in the second half, while Columbia improved to 38-67 and 20-19 in the second half. Friday night was also Deaf Awareness Night at the ballpark presented by Young Talkers. The Pelicans held a “silent inning” in the fifth with sign language interpreters throughout the ballpark. The team also wore special jerseys that were auctioned off throughout the game, benefitting Pelicans Organization for the Deaf.

For the fourth game this week, the Pelicans were outhit by the Fireflies with Scott McKeon (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI) and Ezequiel Pagan (1-3, 2 RBI) leading the charge for Myrtle Beach. James Triantos (2-4, 2B) also had a multi-hit performance in the loss.

The Pelicans walked nine batters with Saul Gonzalez (0-1) taking the loss. Gonzalez allowed two earned runs and two hits through his 1 1/3 innings with a pair of walks. Starter Luis Rodriguez lasted just under four innings with three runs, two earned allowed off four hits and four walks while striking out six.

In his second game in Single-A, Cayden Wallace (3-4, 2B, 4 RBI, BB) brought home four runs for Columbia on a single and a double. Yeudi Advincola (2-3, 3B, BB) also posted a multi-hit game out of the nine spot in the lineup. The Fireflies went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven.

The Fireflies received great outings from the bullpen arms of Matt Stil (1-1) and Wander Arias. Stil earned the win with 1 2/3 shutout innings and four strikeouts. Arias threw the final five innings with one earned run off three hits and seven strikeouts. Starter Ben Hernandez allowed four earned runs in his 2 1/3 innings.

As things got going at 7:49 p.m., the Pelicans wasted no time getting on the board. Chavers doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and moved to third on a groundout by Josue Huma. Pagan brought him in on a sacrifice fly to left field for the game’s first run.

Two more runs came across for Myrtle Beach in the second. With runners on second and third and two outs, McKeon lined a single into right field. Both runners scored by McKeon was tagged out by first baseman Guillermo Quintana after turning the corner for second base. The Pelicans led 3-0 after two innings.

Wallace came up with his first big hit with runners on second and third and two outs in the top of the third. He lined a 2-2 pitch to right field that brought home both runners to make it a 3-2 game.

Chavers tripled to right-center to lead off the bottom of the inning. Pagan knocked him in with one out on a ground-ball single to right as the lead stretched to 4-2.

Columbia brought themselves closer with a run in the top of the fourth. With two outs and a runner on second, Javier Vaz hit an infield single to Triantos at third. The run came home as Triantos’ throw sailed high to first base.

Wallace once again came up with a big hit in the top of the fifth. After Gonzalez walked the first two batters, Wallace lined a double to left that scored both runners as the Fireflies took a 5-4 lead.

An important insurance run was scored in the top of the seventh as Advincola scored on a wild pitch by Andricson Salvador following his lead-off triple.

The Pelicans brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but came up short. McKeon hit a two-out triple to right-center and scored on a wild pitch by Arias to make it 6-5 Fireflies. Chavers grounded out on a 3-2 pitch to cut the rally short and end the game.

The Pelicans and Fireflies will get set for Saturday’s contest at 6:05 p.m.