Ramirez’s Two-Run Double Sends Pelicans to Third Walk-Off Win in a Row

By Sam Weiderhaft

For the third night in a row, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans walk-off winners over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings. Pedro Ramirez hit a two-run double in the 10^th to secure the victory. The win pushed the Birds to a 68-48 record and 29-22 in the second half while the Cannon Ballers dropped to 59-57 and 24-27 in the second half.

Ramirez (1-1, 2B, 2 RBI) came in as a pinch runner in the ninth and recorded the walk-off hit in his only at-bat. Brian Kalmer (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit his sixth home run in the bottom of the first on a two-run shot. Brett Bateman (1-1, RBI) came in as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and tied the game with an RBI single. It was the seventh walk-off win for the Pelicans this season.

With five strikeouts across 2 1/3 innings, Jose Romer (3-1) took the win after allowing two runs, one earned as the final pitcher to come in for the Pelicans. Starter Luis Rujano allowed one earned run in four innings and Erian Rodriguez followed with two earned runs in 3 2/3 frames.

Kannapolis was led by Ryan McCarthy (1-3, 3B, 2 RBI) on a two-run triple that gave them the lead in the eighth. Ryan Galanie (3-4, RBI, BB) finished with three singles and a run driven in in the 10^th. The Cannon Ballers stranded 10 runners and went 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

A total of five pitchers were used by the Cannon Ballers, and for the second time this week, Ben Beutel (4-4) gave up a walk-off as he took the loss with three runs, two earned coming in the 10^th inning. Starter Shane Murphy gave up the home run in the first but continued with four scoreless frames and three strikeouts.

Kalmer got the Birds going in the opening frame as he hit a two-run home run to the bleachers in left to give the Pelicans an early 2-0 lead.

The Cannon Ballers scored their first run in the third as Jhoneiker Betancourt lined a double to left that scored the runner from second.

The following four innings were quiet until Kannapolis took their first lead in the top of the eighth. With one out and two runners on, McCarthy hit a triple that bounced off the wall in center field to score both runs as the Cannon Ballers went up 3-2.

Myrtle Beach came back to tie it in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Bateman came in as a pinch-hitter and grounded a single into right field that scored the runner from second to tie the game at three.

After Romero struck out the first two batters in the top of the 10^th, Galanie came up and ripped a single to left that scored the runner from second. Juan Gonzalez followed with a single to right that scored another run as Kannapolis went up by two.

Beutel came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the 10^th and immediately hit Rafael Morel to put the tying run on base with runners on first and second. Cristian Hernandez followed with a double that bounced into centerfield as Miguel Pabon scored from second. With one out and runners on second and third, Ramirez lifted a double off the wall in left that scored both runners and gave the Pelicans a 6-5 win.

The fourth game of the week is set for Friday night at 7:05 p.m.