Birds take game three over Wilmington behind dominant pitching

WILMINGTON, De. (September 1, 2019) - Brailyn Marquez and Ryan Lawlor combined to hold the Wilmington Blue Rocks to just one run as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans took down Wilmington 2-1 in game three of the series on Sunday at Frawley Stadium.

For the third time in the series, the Blue Rocks (38-31, 82-56) took an early lead over the Pelicans (34-35, 55-81). In the bottom of the second inning, Nick Pratto led off the frame with a single off Marquez (W, 4-1) and after he stole second, he scored on a Sebastian Rivero RBI single that made it 1-0.
The Pelicans stormed back in the top of the third inning and plated two runs. Rito Lugo (L, 4-4) retired the first two batters of the inning without incedent, but allowed a two-out single to Delvin Zinn that jumpstarted the rally. Carlos Sepulveda then bunted down the third base line and the throw from the catcher MJ Melendez went down the right field line, allowing Zinn to score all the way from first and even the game at 1-1. 
Myrtle Beach then took the lead one batter later when Grant Fennell lined an RBI single and made it 2-1 in favor of Myrtle Beach. 
Marquez delivered his longest outing of the season in a Pelicans uniform as he went six innings and allowed just one run on five hits, while striking out six and walking just one. 
Lawlor pitched the final three frames for the Pelicans to earn the save. The lefty struck out four in three one-hit innings for the Pelicans in their 2-1 win over Wilmington. 
The Pelicans will wrap up the 2019 season with an afterrnoon contest on Monday that starts at 12:05 p.m. Myrtle Beach has yet to announce a starter for the ballgame and LHP Austin Cox (3-3, 2.77) will take the ball for the Blue Rocks in the finale. Coverage starts at 11:50 a.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast and the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Apps.
The 2019 season is the 21st season for the Pelicans franchise and fifth as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For tickets visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/tickets, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Box Office.
ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since being acquired by a group led by Chuck Greenberg during the 2006 season, the Pelicans have repeatedly set team attendance records and become known as one of Minor League Baseball's most innovative and creative franchises. The team and its employees have been dedicated to making a difference in the Myrtle Beach community, specifically giving back over $2 million in donations, fundraising proceeds, in-kind services and community service since launching the Pelicans Play It Forward Community Initiative in 2013. TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in six of the last seven seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences and the best in the Carolina League for six of the past seven seasons. In June 2017, the Pelicans won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. On the field, the team has won four Mills Cup Championships, including claims to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and again in 2015 and 2016. The Pelicans have made 11 postseason appearances behind 13 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, second half of 2016 and first half of 2017. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or email [email protected].