Birds tumble late in 4-1 loss

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (July 25, 2017) - Despite a strong spot start from Kyle Miller Tuesday, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost for the third time in a row in a 4-1 defeat to the Carolina Mudcats at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
With the game tied at one in the eighth, Carolina (50-50, 14-18) took their second lead of the contest over Myrtle Beach (55-46,13-18). Corey Ray reached on an error to open up the frame before he advanced to second base on a one-out walk by Isan Diaz. Lucas Erceg drove in both Ray and Diaz with a two-run double to right-center off Birds reliever Jordan Minch (0-3), giving Carolina the 3-1 advantage. 

The Mudcats extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the ninth inning as Troy Stokes Jr. singled in Luis Aviles Jr., who had led off the frame with a base knock. 
Nate Griep entered the contest for Carolina in the bottom of the ninth inning. The right-hander tossed a scoreless frame to record his Carolina League-leading 18th save of the season to cement the Muddies' 4-1 victory.
With the game scoreless in the top of the first inning, Ray launched his fifth home run of the season to right field giving the Mudcats an early 1-0 lead. 
The score remained that way until the seventh. Vimael Machin led off the frame with a pinch-hit single for Myrtle Beach before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Connor Myers . With two outs in the frame, Zack Short reached on an infield single before an error on the same play allowed Machin to score and Short to advance to second, tying the game at one. 
Miller yielded just one run on two hits over four innings before turning the ball over to the Myrtle Beach bullpen. Scott Effross followed Miller with three spotless frames, whiffing three and allowing just one hit. 
With back-to-back losses to Carolina, Myrtle Beach will look to avoid their first non-rain-shortened sweep since 2015 on Wednesday.
Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. series finale pits LHP Justin Steele (6-6, 2.66 ERA) against Mudcats RHP Connor Harber (2-7, 5.40 ERA). Coverage will begin at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch App and TuneIn.
Wednesday's contest will be a Weiner Wednesday, meaning buy one get one hot dogs all night long. Gates at TicketReturn.Com Field will open at 6:00 p.m.
The 2017 season is the 19th season for the Pelicans franchise and third as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2017, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.
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. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last six seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last six years and the best in the Carolina League for six straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the two-time defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 and 2016 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made ten postseason appearances behind 12 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season and second half of 2016. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].