Pelicans Mount Comeback, Win 6-5 over Woodpeckers in 10 Innings
By Sam Weiderhaft After falling behind in the first half of the game, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans stuck around and took down the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 6-5 in a 10-inning contest on Wednesday night. With the two victories to begin the series, the Pelicans stand at 21-20 while the Woodpeckers dropped
By Sam Weiderhaft
After falling behind in the first half of the game, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans stuck around and took down the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 6-5 in a 10-inning contest on Wednesday night. With the two victories to begin the series, the Pelicans stand at 21-20 while the Woodpeckers dropped to 16-24.
The Pelicans put up 10 hits with Andy Garriola (2-5, 2B, RBI) and Felix Stevens (2-5, 2B, RBI) leading the way with multi-hit games and back-to-back doubles in the seventh inning to take the lead. Reivaj Garcia (2-4, 2 BB) reached base four times and scored twice on two singles and two walks.
Five pitchers were used by the Pelicans’ staff with reliever Yovanny Cabrera (1-2) earning his first win of the year with 2 2/3 shutout frames and just one hit allowed. Angel Gonzalez followed him and got the final out to secure his second save of the year. Starter Michael Arias lasted three innings without giving up a run and striking out five.
Seven of the eight Woodpecker hits were singles with Narbe Cruz (3-5, RBI) leading the way with three hits and a run batted in. Garrett McGowan (2-3, 2 BB) scored two runs and reached base four times in the loss. Fayetteville left 14 runners on base and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Deury Carrasco (1-1) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, his lone inning of work. Starter Jose Guedez sacrificed just one run and struck out five across his 4 2/3 innings.
The Pelicans struck first in the opening frame as Garcia led things off with a single. After stealing second, Moises Ballesteros hit him in on a double to left to give Myrtle Beach the early lead.
With two outs in the fourth, the Woodpeckers scored three runs to take their first lead. Jackson Loftin hit a single to center with runners on first and second to score the lead runner. Following a throwing error by Cristian More in center, the other runner scored and Loftin moved to second. He would move to third on a stolen base and score on a passed ball for a 3-1 Woodpeckers lead.
Both teams scored one in the sixth as Rafael Morel hit an RBI single with two outs in the top half to bring the Pelicans within one.
Fayetteville got the run back as Cruz was hit by a pitch by Angel Hernandez with the bases loaded to make it 4-2 Woodpeckers.
The Pelicans took control in the top of the seventh with three runs. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Juan Mora lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate the runner from third. Garriola came up with a runner on third and one out and smacked a double on a line drive to left to tie the game at four. Stevens followed with a double off the wall on the next pitch to score Garriola and put the Pelicans in front 5-4.
It was a quick response as the Woodpeckers tied the game again in the bottom half. With a runner on first and one out, Sandro Gaston hit a double to right to score the run and level the game back at five.
Both teams were held quiet in the eighth and ninth before the Pelicans cashed in at the top of the 10th. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Miguel Pabon grounded to short for a double play as Cristian Hernandez scored from third to put Myrtle Beach up 6-5.
Cruz grounded out to short and was thrown out at first with the bases loaded and two outs to end the game.
Game three of the series is slated for Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.