MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (April 2, 2019) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans exploded for nine runs on ten hits to down the Charleston RiverDogs, 9-4 in the Battle of the Beaches at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (April 2, 2019) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans exploded for nine runs on ten hits to down the Charleston RiverDogs, 9-4 in the Battle of the Beaches at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
The Birds got out to a fast start in the first inning. After Jimmy Herron reached on an error, he came around to score on an RBI single by Luke Reynolds .
The lead did not last long, however, as Charleston scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a brief 2-1 lead. The inning led off with a Nelson Gomez walk, followed by three-straight singles and another walk before the inning was concluded prematurely. Due to the contest being an exhibition game and Pelicans starter Erling Moreno's high pitch count, the inning was called with the bases loaded and no one out. Moreno worked four innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two.
D.J. Wilson , who went 2-for-3 on the day with four RBIs, gave the Birds the lead in the bottom of the second with a two-run single, making it 3-2.
After a quiet third inning, the Birds added on in the bottom of the fourth. After Jhonny Bethencourt doubled, Wilson crushed a two-run homer to give the Pelicans a 5-2 advantage.
Myrtle Beach added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Reynolds reached on an error and later came around to score after an another error by the second baseman, Kyle Gray.
Charleston's power hitting catcher, Josh Breaux gave the RiverDogs some life in the sixth with a massive, solo blast to center to cut the Pelicans lead to 6-3.
The Birds vollyed back in the botton of the sixth inning as Zach Davis beat out a slow roller to first for an infield single and Jimmy Herron immediately followed that with a two-run homer to extend the Pelicans' lead to 8-3.
Luis Lugo entered the game in the fourth inning and spun 3.2 innings of quality work, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out seven to earn the win.
Charleston got another run in the top of the seventh inning on a solo homer to left from Brandon Lockridge.
Garrett Kelly then took the mound with two outs in the eighth inning and recorded the last four outs for the Pelicans, striking out three.
The Pelicans and RiverDogs played the bottom of the ninth inning as well, despite the Pelicans leading 8-4. The Birds added a run in the ninth inning to close out the 9-4 win in the Battle of the Beaches.
RiverDogs starter Luis Medina was tagged with the loss, throwing 3.1 innings.
The Pelicans officially will open the 2019 season on Thursday, April 4 against the Lynchburg Hillcats, a Cleveland Indians affiliate, at 7:05 p.m. RHP Alex Lange (0-0, 0.00) is scheduled to take the bump for the Pelicans, while the Hillcats will counter with RHP Justin Garza (0-0, 0.00). Opening Night will also be the first Thirsty Thursday of the year presented by Celebrations Nitelife, Axelrod & Associates and GATOR 107.9. From 5:30, when gates open, until 8 p.m., fans can enjoy $1 12 oz. Bud and Bud Light drafts, $2 16 oz. cans and $2 Duplin Wine. The first 1,000 fans receive a 2019 magnet schedule giveaway, presented by Mellow Mushroom. Following the game, there will be a Postgame Fireworks Extravaganza, courtesy of East Coast Pyrotechnics.
Tickets are available for all 2019 regular season Pelicans' home games at www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Tickets.
