Birds Drop Series Finale to Cannon Ballers 6-1

The Pelicans left 10 runners on base in the defeat

By Sam Weiderhaft

For the second game in a row, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans came up short to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers by the score of 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. The Pelicans still took four of the six games as their record fell to 48-21 on the year and 1-2 in the second half. Kannapolis moved up to 28-41 with their second-weekend victory.

The Pelicans lineup was led by Felix Stevens (2-4, 2B, RBI) as he brought in the only run of the game with an RBI double in the fourth. Kevin Alcantara (2-3, 3B, R, BB) scored that run and posted the other multi-hit game for the Birds’ lineup.

Richard Gallardo (4-5) gave up five unearned runs off six hits and a walk in his 3 2/3 innings to take the loss. The other run was given up by Chase Watkins in his one inning out of the bullpen. The Pelicans struck out 11 times in the loss.

The leadoff spot provided the most damage for the Cannon Ballers as Wilber Sanchez (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) hit a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. Wilfred Varas (1-4, HR, RBI, 2 R) lifted a home run in the fifth for his eighth of the season.

Just two pitchers were used by Kannapolis with Tommy Sommer (3-5) earning the win with one earned run in his six innings. Sommer struck out right with a walk and four hits allowed in his outing. Bowen Plagge closed out the final three frames with three strikeouts to take the save.

It was a quiet three innings to start the game for both teams by the Pelicans grabbed an early lead in the fourth. With runners on the corners and one out, Stevens flew a double to right field to score Alcantara as Myrtle Beach went up first.

Kannapolis responded with a five-run bottom half. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Samil Polanco grounded to short as a run came in to tie the game. Later in the inning, Victor Torres hit an RBI single with one out to give the Cannon Ballers a 2-1 lead. The bases became loaded on a hit-by-pitch and Sanchez cleared them with a double to right.

Veras’ home run came one inning later in the bottom of the fifth on a fly ball to left field to put the Cannon Ballers up 6-1.

The Pelicans made some noise in the ninth as two batters were hit by a pitch, and one was walked with one out. Plagge retired the next two hitters to end the game.

Myrtle Beach will return for a six-game set against the Charleston RiverDogs starting on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.