Pelicans stung by the long ball in 14-6 loss

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (June 23, 2017) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans had their three-game winning streak snapped after surrendering three home runs Friday in their 14-6 loss to the Down East Wood Ducks from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
The Wood Ducks (25-46, 1-1) made their presence known after scorching Myrtle Beach (44-28, 1-1) starter Ryan Kellogg (3-4) in the first inning. Franklin Rollin led off the frame with a double to left field. Brallan Perez walked before Yanio Perez singled to left field, scoring Rollin to give the Woodies the early 1-0 advantage. Luis La O and Josh Altman followed Yanio Perez with back-to-back base hits, with the latter scoring Brallan Perez. With the score 2-0, Down East continued their onslaught of runs with a two-run single from Arturo Lara that scored both Yanio Perez and La O. 

With two men retired in the second frame, La O drew a walk to keep the side alive. Altman singled, advancing La O to second before he scored on a base knock from Tyler Sanchez. With Altman at third and Sanchez on second, Lara laced a base hit to center field that scored Altman before Sanchez was tossed out at home plate on a perfect throw from Connor Myers in center field. 
With the Woodies leading 6-0, Down East posted another crooked number in the third. After a leadoff single from LeDarious Clark, Matt Lipka lined his first home run of the season over the left field wall to extend the Wood Ducks' lead to 8-0. Down East would later blast their second home run of the frame, a three-run shot off the bat of La O, which made the score 11-0. 
Myrtle Beach would crack the scoreboard with their first run of the contest in the bottom of the third. Myers, who had two hits, jumpstarted the frame with a leadoff triple to left-center before advancing home on a base hit from Robert Garcia.
Clark would snag the run right back in the fourth inning with a lead-off home run to begin the frame, which made the score 12-1. 
Eloy Jiménez, Jesse Hodges and Eddy Martinez  all singled to begin the fourth to load the bases for Myrtle Beach. Tyler Alamo bounced into a double play, which allowed Jimenez to advance home which made the score 12-2. 
Down East would tack on a run in both the fifth and the sixth innings courtesy of RBIs from Clark and Yanio Perez.
With the score 14-2, Myrtle Beach scored a trio of runs in the seventh. Garcia led off the frame for Myrtle Beach with his second hit of the contest. With one out in the frame, Trent Giambrone , who registered three knocks, bashed a base hit to left field. With runners on the corners, Jimenez rifled a double to left field that allowed Garcia to score. With runners on second and third, Down East right-hander Kelvin Vasquez hurled a wild pitch that allowed P.J. Higgins to score and Jimenez to advanced to third. Jesse Hodges reached base on a walk before advancing to second base on a passed ball that also allowed Jimenez to score for the final run of the frame. 
Myrtle Beach would score four unanswered runs to end the contest with another tally in the eighth. Alamo and Myers both drew walks to lead off the frame before they both advanced into scoring position following a ground out. Andruw Monasterio  grounded out to second with one out in the frame, which brought in Alamo to make the score 14-6
Despite four unanswered runs, Myrtle Beach was unable to claw all the way back against the Woodies starter Wes Benjamin (5-6), who allowed just two runs over six innings of work in Down East's 14-6 victory over the Pelicans.
Myrtle Beach and Down East play game three of the four-game set in Saturday's 7:05 p.m. contest. RHP Mike Rucker (1-1, 1.73 ERA) opposes Wood Ducks RHP Richelson (4-3, 3.36 ERA). Television coverage of Saturday's game starts at 7 p.m. on The CW21 and MiLB.tv. A radio broadcast will begin at 6:50 on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
Saturday's contest will continue on with Cubs-A-Palooza. Bill Buckner, Bobby Dernier and Clark the Club will visit Myrtle Beach. Saturday's game will also feature a special Postgame Fireworks Extravaganza presented by East Coast Pyrotechnics Fireworks.
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].