Dash edge Pelicans on Star Wars Night

Winston-salem wins its first game against Myrtle Beach

By Mason Robinson

April 24, 2015

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (APRIL 24, 2015) - For the first time this season, the Winston-Salem Dash took home a victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on Friday night.

The Dash (6-9) took the lead in the third inning. Center fielder Adam Engel was hit with a pitch, and stole second base before he scored on a single by shortstop Jake Peter. With one out in the fifth, right fielder Keenyn Walker walked and stole second before scoring on a throwing error to give the Dash a 2-0 lead.

Myrtle Beach (9-5) suffered just its first one-run defeat of the year after climbing back to tie the game in the fifth inning. Second baseman Wes Darvill knocked a one-out single to left field before designated hitter Alberto Mineo walked. Speedy center fielder Jacob Hannemann then stepped to the plate and beat out an infield single. With the bases loaded, right fielder Kevin Brown hit a ground ball up the middle, but Dash second baseman Cleuluis Rondon bobbled the ball and allowed Darvill to score. Left fielder Billy McKinney followed with a sacrifice fly out to left field to tie the game at 2-2.

Rondon led off the seventh with a sharp double to left-center field. He scored when Walker bunted and reached on a throwing error by Pelicans reliever Gerardo Concepcion to give the Dash a 3-2 lead.

Right-hander Tayler Scott came on in the eighth and struck out four over two innings of work.

McKinney was the only Pelicans players to reach over the final four innings against the Dash bullpen. He collected his second hit of the night with an infield single.

Myrtle Beach starter Duane Underwood Jr. threw five innings on the mound in his third start of the year, striking out three and allowing one earned run. He was saddled with a no-decision.

Concepcion (0-2) took the loss for Myrtle Beach while Andre Wheeler (1-1) pitched 2 1/3 innings to pick up his first victory out of the bullpen. Zach Isler posted his first save of the year for the Dash, striking out two in two scoreless innings.

The Pelicans and Dash play game three of the series at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Paul Blackburn (1-0, 3.60) will take the ball for Myrtle Beach while right-hander Tony Bucciferro (0-1, 5.73) will take the mound for Winston-Salem.

Saturday is also the continuation of #Geekend with Superhero Night at the ballpark, featuring a Cape Giveaway for the first 500 fans 12 years of age and younger. It will also be Special Olympics Night, featuring superhero appearances and a Pelicans jersey auction to benefit Special Olympics of South Carolina. There will also be postgame fireworks presented by East Coast Pyrotechnics.

The game can be heard live, presented by Courtyard Myrtle Beach at Barefoot Landing, on 1450 WRNN-AM ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m. ET.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.