Pertuz Homers Twice in 8-4 Win over Nationals

By Sam Weiderhaft

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans won their third game of the week 8-4 over the Fredericksburg Nationals on Saturday night. With the win, the Birds stand at 16-21 while the Nationals dropped to 21-14. The Pelicans have a chance to win their first series of the season with a victory on Sunday. Saturday’s game was Mental Health Awareness Night presented Lighthouse Behavioral Health Hospital, with the Pelicans wearing special jerseys that were auctioned off to benefit the organization.

With two home runs, Fabian Pertuz (2-4, HR, 4 RBI) led the Birds’ offense. It was the first multi-home run game since Andy Garriola hit two homers against Salem on April 30^th. Jacob Wetzel (1-3, HR, RBI) also provided a home run in the win. Every batter reached base safely in the victory.

The Pelicans used just two pitchers as Juan Bello (1-1) took the win with four earned runs across his five innings. Ty Johnson tossed a perfect four innings with five strikeouts to close the game out and claim his first save of the season.

Gavin Dugas (1-3, HR, 3 RBI) provided the pop from the leadoff spot with an RBI groundout and two-run home run for the Nationals. Brenner Cox (2-3, 2B) scored two runs and posted the only multi-hit game.

After keeping opponents scoreless in his last two outings, starter Marc Davis (0-1) took the loss with four runs, three earned in his three innings. Mason Denaburg followed with three runs across two innings in relief.

The Pelicans opened up the scoring by putting up four runs in the second. With runners on the corners, Pertuz lifted a three-run home run down the left-field line for his first of the season. After a single by Christian Olivo, Reggie Preciado hit a fly ball that was dropped by Cox in right as Olivo scored for a 4-0 lead.

Dugas collected his first RBI on a groundout to short that brought home the first run.

Myrtle Beach put up three more runs in the fourth. Pertuz led off the inning with a solo homer to left-center for his second of the game. Cristian Hernandez and Garriola later hit RBI singles to extend the lead to 7-1.

The Nationals made it a three-run game with three runs in the top of the fifth. With a runner on first, Cristhian Vaquero hit a single to right and got caught in a rundown between first and second. Cox scored on the play after Pertuz committed a throwing error trying to throw him out at third. Dugas followed with a two-run homer to left-center to cut the lead to 7-4 Pelicans.

Wetzel homered on a line drive over the right field wall in the bottom of the seventh for his second of the year to extend the lead to 8-4.

The series will conclude on Sunday evening with first pitch at 4:05 p.m.