Birds Fall Flat in Thursday’s Doubleheader

The Pelicans are now tied for the top spot in the South Division with the two losses

By Sam Weiderhaft

With just three runs scored across the two seven-inning contests, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans were downed by the Carolina Mudcats 3-2 in game one and 2-1 in game two. The two losses dropped Myrtle Beach to a 37-17 record as they lost their lead over the Charleston RiverDogs in the Carolina League South Division standings. Carolina improved to 30-24 with the sweep.

Game One: The Pelicans scored just two runs on a home run by Ezequiel Pagan (2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI) as his hot month of June continued. The outfielder now has 12 RBI in his seven games played in the month with 11 base hits.

Starting pitcher Luke Little (1-2) took the loss after surrendering all three runs with one earned off three hits and a walk while striking out three. Myrtle Beach committed two fielding errors defensively.

The Mudcats had just one RBI for the game that came from Jeferson Quero (1-3, RBI, R) with Hendry Mendez (2-3) providing two of the six hits.

Three pitchers came in over the seven innings as starter Stiven Cruz (1-1) earned the win with six strikeouts across five innings while allowing the two earned runs. The save went to Karlos Morales after allowing two hits but escaping the final inning unharmed.

The first inning saw most of the runs come in for the Mudcats as Jackson Chourio reached on a fielding error by Reginald Preciado at short and scored on Quero’s single to right. Quero came in on a single by Hedbert Perez that was misplayed in right by Jacob Wetzel for the second error of the inning.

One more came in for Carolina in the second as Jose Sibrian doubled to lead off and came in on a balk by Little while at third to make it 3-0.

Pagan’s home run came with two outs in the top of the third as he knocked in Kevin Alcantara and cut the led down to one.

Myrtle Beach hit back-to-back singles with two outs, but the game ended on James Triantos’ liner to left field.

Game Two: In another low-scoring affair, the Pelicans were held to just three hits in the 2-1 loss. Juan Mora (1-3, RBI) brought in the only run on a single in the seventh.

The starting pitcher once again took the loss as Richard Gallardo (4-4) gave up both earned runs through his 4 2/3 off five hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

Chourio (3-3, HR, 3B, RBI) provided the power with a solo homer in the fourth inning and a triple in the performance. He tallied half of Carolina’s hits in game two.

Edwin Jimenez (1-1) earned the win with five shutout innings and only two hits allowed with three strikeouts. Israel Puello picked up his first save of the season after throwing the final two frames.

Both teams were scoreless until a two-run bottom of the fourth by the Mudcats. Chourio hit a home run to right field that stayed fair down the line for his fifth of the season. Quero followed with a walk, then stole second, and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Perez brought him in with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 2-0 lead.

Myrtle Beach made noise in the seventh as Triantos walked, got to second on a sacrifice bunt, and landed on third off a balk. With runners on the corners, Mora hit him in with a single up the middle. The tying run was left on second base after Felix Stevens flew out to right field to end the game.

Myrtle Beach and Carolina will play the fourth game of the series on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.