Winning streak ends with 2-1 loss in extras

Clifton goes six strong in defeat

By John Vittas

August 10, 2016

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (August 10, 2016) - Despite Trevor Clifton allowing only an unearned run over six innings of one-run ball, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' 10-game winning streak ended with a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the Salem Red Sox Wednesday at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the tenth, Pedro Araujo (0-2) issued back-to-back one-out walks before Craig Brooks entered the game. Brooks walked another batter to load the bases before releasing a wild pitch that allowed the go-ahead run to score and make it 2-1.

Simon Mercedes (3-2) worked a scoreless ninth and tenth for Salem (68-46, 25-20) to earn the win.

The loss snapped the Pelicans' (64-52, 28-18) longest winning roll since 2008.

Clifton struck out five and only allowed three hits to lower his season ERA to 2.96. That is the lowest mark for all active qualified pitchers in the Carolina League.

With the game scoreless in the top of the first, Clifton walked Reed Gragnani with one out. Rafael Devers then reached on an error, advancing Gragnani to third. Clifton then uncorked a pickoff throw past Yasiel Balaguert at first, allowing Gragnani to score and give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Jeffrey Baez delivered an opposite field home run to tie the game at one.

Both starters settled in from there, each going six innings on 95 pitches. Salem starter Trey Ball allowed one run on four hits while striking out a season-high seven.

Daury Torrez worked 1.2 scoreless innings for Myrtle Beach before Araujo (0-2) got the Pelicans through the eighth and ninth.

The rubber game between Myrtle Beach and Salem will take place at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday. RHP Preston Morrison (1-0, 1.38 ERA) makes the start for the Pelicans. Thursday is "Old School Hip-Hop Night" featuring a post-game DJ session from Biz Markie. Fans can also enjoy $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts from 6-8 p.m. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app, TuneIn and MiLB.tv.

The 2016 season is the 18th season for the Pelicans franchise and second as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, 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 five seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last five years and the best in the Carolina League for five 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 defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].