Huma’s Walk-Off Single Completes Pelicans Comeback over RiverDogs

Three of the four Myrtle Beach runs came from home runs

by Sam Weiderhaft

Red, White, and Blue weekend started with some fireworks as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans walked off winners 4-3 over the Charleston RiverDogs on Friday night. The Birds improved to 51-22 with their third win of the week and 4-3 in the second half. Charleston lost their fifth game of the seven in the second half and fell to 48-25. Friday night featured the first of three fireworks shows this weekend leading up to Independence Day.

Three home runs powered the Pelicans as Kevin Made (2-4, HR, RBI, BB), Jacob Wetzel (1-5, HR, RBI), and James Triantos (1-4, HR, RBI) all hit solo homers for three of the Myrtle Beach runs. Josue Huma (3-6, RBI) led the Pelicans with three singles, including the walk-off hit in the 11th inning.

Friday’s win went to Alfredo Zarraga (1-0) after pitching a scoreless 11th with one strikeout. Tyler Santana came out of the bullpen for six innings in relief with one unearned run off four hits and a walk while striking out four. Starting pitcher Luke Little struck out six in his two innings with two earned runs allowed.

The RiverDogs were led by Willy Vasquez (3-5, 3B, 2 RBI) with three hits and a two-run triple in the first inning. The RiverDogs drew seven walks and struck out 13 times in the fourth game of the series.

Sandy Gaston (2-3) took the loss after sacrificing the winning run with two outs in the 11th. Starting pitcher Christian Fernandez lasted just under six innings with six strikeouts and two earned runs off a pair of homers. Antonio Jimenez blew a save by giving up the home run to Triantos in the eighth.

Charleston took an early lead with two outs in the first inning as Vasquez came up with runners on second and third. He drilled a 1-1 pitch to center field for a two-run triple as the RiverDogs went up 2-0.

Myrtle Beach responded with one out in the bottom of the first as Made took the first pitch of his at-bat over the bleachers in left field for a solo shot. It was his seventh homer of the season.

Wetzel tied it in the bottom of the third with a leadoff solo homer to right field. Wetzel’s third home run of the season knotted both teams at two.

The RiverDogs led off the top of the fourth with two runners on from a walk and a single off Santana. Ryan Spikes struck out on a wild pitch by Santana as both runners advanced. Catcher Ethan Hearn threw wild to third base for a throwing error as Logan Allen came in to put the RiverDogs back up 3-2.

Triantos led off the Pelicans’ half of the eighth with a solo home run to left on the second pitch from Menendez to tie the game 3-3.

As both teams left the bases loaded in the 10th, the Birds walk-off winners in the bottom of the 11th. With two outs and runners on second and third, Huma lined a single to left field to bring in Felix Stevens. It was the fourth walk-off win for the Pelicans this season.

Saturday night will feature game five of the series with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.