Hatch dominates in second half opener

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (June 22, 2017) - Thomas Hatch yielded just an unearned run over seven innings Thursday in the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' 2-1 victory over the Down East Wood Ducks in the second half opener in front of 5,024 from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
Hatch (3-6) was dominant for Myrtle Beach (44-27, 1-0) in his seven innings. The righty surrendered just one unearned run while striking out six Wood Ducks (24-46, 0-1) en route to his third victory of the season. James Norwood entered the contest for Hatch in the eighth, striking out a pair in a scoreless frame of work. Pedro Araujo locked down his fourth save of the season, as the right-hander struck out two more batters to give the Birds the 2-1 victory - their 16th in 18 games in June.

Myrtle Beach jumped out in front in the third inning. Trent Giambrone led off the frame with a walk before advancing to third base on a single from Andruw Monasterio . With two outs in the frame, Bryant Flete delivered with an RBI single to left field that scored Giambrone to make it 1-0. 
Monasterio singled with one out in the fifth inning before advancing home on a triple from switch-hitting center fielder Robert Garcia to extend the Birds lead to 2-0. 
Matt Lipka kicked off the top of the Wood Ducks' sixth inning with a leadoff double to left field. Lipka moved to third base on a ground out from Franklin Rollin before eventually advancing home on an error to make the score 2-1. 
With the victory, Myrtle Beach improved to 10-3 against the Wood Ducks this season. 
Myrtle Beach and Down East will continue their four-game set with game two on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Pelicans LHP Ryan Kellogg  (3-3, 3.86 ERA) will oppose Wood Ducks LHP Wes Benjamin (4-6, 5.21 ERA). Coverage of Friday's game will begin at 6:50 on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
Friday's contest will kick off Cubs-A-Palooza. Andre Dawson and the Chicago Cubs' World Series Trophy will visit Myrtle Beach. Friday's game is also a Taste of Chicago Foodie Friday. The first 500 kids 12 & under will also receive a Pelicans collectible fidget spinner as part of a Fidget Spinner Friday. Gates open at 6 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].