Clifton, Birds move one win away from championship

LYNCHBURG, Va. (September 13, 2016) - Trevor Clifton scattered three hits over six shutout innings to lead the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to a 7-0 win Tuesday at Calvin Falwell Field at City Stadium, leaving the Pelicans one win away from their second straight Mills Cup Championship.

Clifton (2-0) fanned five and did not walk a batter, earning his second postseason win in as many tries.

Pelicans (2-1) leadoff man Charcer Burks doubled to right to start the game. Two batters later, David Bote drove him home with a double to left, giving Myrtle Beach a 1-0 lead.

With the Birds still up one in the top of the third, Bryant Flete tripled down the right field line with one out before Burks drove him in with a sacrifice fly, opening up a 2-0 Pelicans lead.

With the same score in the sixth, Burks pushed a bunt single to first before Donnie Dewees lined a hit into center. After Hillcats (1-2) starter Luis Lugo (0-1) retired the next two batters, Lynchburg brought in Jared Robinson. Robinson then issued a wild pitch, allowing Burks to score. On the same play, Hillcats catcher Francisco Mejia overthrew Robinson at home plate, allowing Dewees to score as well and give Myrtle Beach a 4-0 lead. Ian Rice then drew a walk before Jeffrey Baez tripled him home to extend the tally to 5-0.

With Robinson pitching in the seventh, Erick Castillo singled up the middle to start the inning. After a Flete fielder's choice, Burks was hit by a pitch. Flete then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Dewees plated him on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0. After a pitching change, Bote doubled off the left field wall to score Burks and give Myrtle Beach a 7-0 advantage.

Tommy Nance struck out five batters over two shutout innings while Scott Effross worked a scoreless ninth to advance the Pelicans to the precipice of the league title.

Myrtle Beach will look to clinch with RHP Preston Morrison (0-1, 9.64 ERA) on the mound for Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. start. Lynchburg will counter with RHP Matt Esparza (0-1, 8.10 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

The 2016 season is the 18th season for the Pelicans franchise and second as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last five seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last five years and the best in the Carolina League for five straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].