Pelicans Walk Off on Nationals in 6-5 Victory

In a rare day game in Myrtle Beach, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans grabbed a walk-off victory 6-5 over the Fredericksburg Nationals on Wednesday afternoon. Chris Paciolla knocked in the winning run with a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth. The Birds stand at 14-20 while the Nationals slipped to 23-12. It was the earliest start time for a Pelicans’ home game since 2010.

The ball was flying early as Leonel Espinoza (2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) and Wally Soto (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) each hit home runs in the first two innings. Paciolla (0-5, RBI) delivered the walk-off fielder’s choice for his first RBI of the day.

For the first time this season, Mason McGwire lasted four innings in his start with three earned runs while not walking anybody with four strikeouts. The win went to Nico Zeglin (2-0) after tossing the final 2 1/3 innings with one earned run and four strikeouts.

The Nationals hit two home runs with Caleb Farmer (1-4, HR, RBI) and Brandon Pimentel (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) each going deep early in the game. Nate Ochoa (2-4, 2B, RBI) and Cristian Vaquero (1-3, RBI) also brought home run in the later innings.

After giving up the winning run, Merrick Baldo (0-1) took the loss after getting one out in the ninth. Starter Bryan Polanco allowed the two home runs in his four innings with five earned runs total.

It was a quick start for the Birds as Espinoza lifted a home run to left field in his first at-bat to lead-off the bottom of the first. The Nationals responded on a solo shot by Caleb Farmer to lead off the second to tie the game 1-1.

In the bottom of the second, Soto pulled a two-run homer over the left field wall to put the Pelicans back in front 3-1. Fredericksburg tied it again in the top of the third on a two-run blast by Pimentel to right field.

With the game tied 3-3, the Pelicans scored in the third and fourth innings. Miguel Pabon hit an RBI single on a ground ball to right field with two outs in the third and Espinoza brought home his second run on a double in the bottom of the fourth as Myrtle Beach took a 5-3 lead.

The middle innings were quiet until Vaquero lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score the runner from third in the top of the seventh to bring the Nationals within one.

Fredericksburg tied it up in the top of the ninth as Armando Cruz led off the inning with a double and later scored on a double by Ochoa to tie the game at five.

The Pelicans put runners on first and second in the bottom half before a balk by Baldo moved both runners to scoring position. Paciolla hit a fielder’s choice to second and the throw home was too late as Christian Olivo scored the winning run for a 6-5 Pelicans win.

The series continues on Thursday night for game three at 7:05 p.m.