Pitching Pushes Birds Past RiverDogs 5-1

The Pelicans Pitching Staff Combined for 13 Strikeouts, Four Hits Allowed in the Second-Straight Victory

Myrtle Beach was the first team to score for the first time this season and didn't look back as the Pelicans won their second-straight game over the Charleston RiverDogs on Saturday night.

With the win, the Pelicans move to 2-3 on the season after dropping their first three contests to the RiverDogs to start the 2021 campaign. Charleston moves to 3-2 to start out the year.

The arms were the highlight of the night as the Myrtle Beach pitching staff only allowed four hits to the RiverDogs, while striking out 13. Scott Kobos (1-0) picked up the first victory of his professional career as the Coastal Carolina alum came out of the bullpen in the fifth inning and threw two innings of hitless baseball while striking out five of the six batters he faced. DJ Herz started the game and threw two innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

Darius Hill (2-5, 1 RBI), continued his hot hitting to start out the season with an RBI single as his hitting streak was pushed to five games. Luis Verdugo (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) had the other multi-hit game for the Pelicans as he collected his first two RBI's of the season.

The RiverDogs were led by Heriberto Hernandez (2-2, HR, 1 RBI) as he homered for the second time in the series. It was Charleston's sixth home run in five games against Myrtle Beach.

The loss went to Charleston starter Seth Johnson (0-1), who tossed the first three innings and gave up two runs on four hits, while walking and striking out three batters each.

For the first time in the season opening series, the Pelicans scored first as two runs came across the plate in the top of the second. Yohendrick Pinango led off the inning with a double to left-center field, and Luis Verdugo followed with another two-base-hit to score Pinango. Grayson Byrd would reach base on an error with one out, and came home to score the second run after Darius Hill lined a single up the middle.

The RiverDogs tallied their only run of the game on a Heriberto Hernandez solo home run to deep left field in their half of the fourth, his second of the season. The Birds responded right away in the top of the fifth with Yeison Santana collecting two stolen bases after reaching on the second RiverDogs' error of the game. Jordan Nwogu walked with Santana at third, and stole second base during the next at-bat. Pinango had two runners in scoring position when he grounded a ball to RiverDogs' first baseman Jonathan Embry who turned and threw home but Santana was able to avoid the tag and put the Pelicans up 3-1. Charleston pitcher Graeme Stinson threw a wild pitch that allowed Nwogu to cross home, and Verdugo grounded out while Pinango scored to extend the Pelicans lead to 5-1.

Charleston had a great opportunity in the bottom of the sixth after drawing two walks on Pelicans' reliever Blake Whitney to start the inning. Myrtle Beach manager Buddy Bailey turned toward the bullpen and called Scott Kobos, who came in and retired the following three batters all via the strikeout to end the inning. The score would remain the same through the end.

Myrtle Beach and Charleston will wrap up their six-game series tomorrow night at 5:05. The Pelicans' home opener is slated for Tuesday, May 11th, against the Augusta GreenJackets.