Pelicans Capitalize on Wood Ducks’ Pitching Mistakes, Win Game Three

By Sam Weiderhaft

Myrtle Beach scored four runs in the fourth inning off three walks and three hit batters

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans got back on track on Thursday night with a 9-4 victory over the Down East Wood Ducks after dropping the first two games. The month-opening win brings the Pelicans to a 22-28 record, while the Wood Ducks fall to 29-21 with just their seventh loss on the road.

Pitching was the story of the game as the Birds got three stellar outings from the pitching staff. Richard Gallardo (2-4) started the game and tossed six innings with three earned runs off give hits. The six-inning outing is the longest by a Pelican pitcher this season. Jeremiah Estrada came on in relief and struck out five through two innings, and Jake Reindl closed it out by striking out the side in the ninth.

On the hitting side, the Birds racked up seven hits with nine runs to show for it. The lineup drew six walks, with three coming in the four-run fourth inning. Jordan Nwogu (1-3, 3B, 3 RBI) led the offensive effort and Ethan Hearn (1-2, 2 RBI) added two more runs batted in after his solo home run last night. Jonathan Sierra (1-3, 2 RBI) also brought in a pair of runs in the victory.

For the first time this series, the Wood Ducks’ pitching staff showed signs of struggle. Starter Abdiel Mendoza (1-3) took the loss after throwing the first three innings and giving up five earned runs off five hits. Nick Lockhart came in and gave up four earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning with three walks issued and three hit-by-pitches.

Down East showed some power with home runs from Alejandro Osuna (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Cristian Inoa (1-4, HR, RBI). Luisangel Acuna (2-4, R) tallied the only multi-hit performance of the evening for the visitors.

For the third game in a row, the Wood Ducks took an early lead with a run in the first inning. Acuna hit a routine ground ball to second base and reached first after a wild throw from Flemin Bautista. After stealing second, Dustin Harris hit him in with double to center field to put the Wood Ducks up 1-0.

They would add two more in the second after Thomas Saggese worked a one-out walk, and Osuna launched a ball to left-center field for a two-run homer to go up 3-0.

The Pelicans responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning with Pablo Aliendo getting hit by a pitch to lead it off. Jacob Wetzel grounded out into a fielder’s choice to get on base and advanced to second after Hearn singled. Nwogu then grounded a ball to short for a force-out at second to move Wetzel to third. The Pelicans scored their first run after Sierra lined a single to right field to score Wetzel.

The home team took their first lead of the series with a four-run third inning with Bautista starting it off with a double to the right-center field gap. Two batters later, Ryan Reynolds took a pitch to left field for another double to drive home Bautista and make it a 3-2 Wood Ducks lead. Aliendo and Wetzel both walked to load the bases, and Hearn picked up his first RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Reynolds and tied the game. With runners on first and second, Nwogu reached for an outside pitched and floated one to left-center field that went to the wall, scoring both runs as Nwogu got to third for a triple and the Pelicans took a 5-3 lead.

Inoa homered to lead off the top of the fourth inning and brought Down East back within one.

Myrtle Beach took charge and blew the game open after scoring four more runs in the fourth. After the first batter was retired, Bautista singled for his second hit of the game to get on base. Kevin Made came up next and was robbed of his first career home run in left field for the second out. Reynolds and Aliendo were both hit by a pitch from Lockhart to load the bases. Lockhart continued to struggle with location, giving up walks to Wetzel and Hearn to bring two runs home for Myrtle Beach. With the bases still loaded, Nwogu was hit by a pitch and Sierra drew a walk to complete the four-run inning off just one hit as the Pelicans controlled the game up 9-4.

Reindl stepped up in the ninth inning by striking out the side for Myrtle Beach and securing the victory.

Fourth of July weekend kicks off on Friday night with first pitch at 7:05. A Munnerlyn Pyrotechnics Fireworks Extravaganza will follow each game this weekend to celebrate the holiday.