Pelicans Throw Second Combined No-Hitter of the Season in 5-0 Win against Fayetteville

It was the fourth nine-inning no-hitter in franchise history

By Sam Weiderhaft

The pitching had been dominant all week and Sunday was the peak for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in a 5-0 win over the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Five pitchers combined for the second no-hitter of the season for the Pelicans, joining the crew from May 1 against the Columbia Fireflies. The Pelicans have now thrown three no-hitters in the last 13 months, all under pitching coach Clayton Mortensen. The series-clinching win pushed the Pelicans to a 59-28 overall record, and 12-9 in the second half. Fayetteville dropped to 37-48 and 6-14 in the second half of the season.

Tyler Schlaffer, Luis Rodriguez (5-1), Gregori Montano, Angel Hernandez, and Alfredo Zarraga tossed the no-no with Ethan Hearn behind the plate. Rodriguez got the win with three innings in relief and a career-high tying eight strikeouts with three walks. Schlaffer started the game and struck out six with two walks through three innings. Montano and Hernandez each went an inning with a strikeout and Zarraga closed the game out by pitching the final inning. Myrtle Beach combined for 16 strikeouts through the game.

The lineup collected eight hits as Ezequiel Pagan (2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI) led the team with a two-run homer and an RBI double. James Triantos (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI) hit a two-run double in the first inning.

Bryant Salgado (6-5) took the loss with three earned runs off five hits and a walk in his 4 2/3 innings. The Woodpeckers committed two errors in their fourth loss in a row.

Victor Mascai (0-2, 2 BB) drew two walks as the Woodpeckers lineup walked five times during the game.

The Pelicans started off with three-straight hits as Juan Mora singled and Kevin Made doubled to put runners on second and third in the bottom of the first. Triantos lined a double to left field to score both runs. Pagan later hit a ground-rule double to right-center field that bounced over the wall to score Triantos for a 3-0 lead.

As the pitching staff held Fayetteville scoreless, the Pelicans added two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Pagan crushed a two-run home run to right field for his ninth of the season to bring the advantage to 5-0.

Zarraga came out for the ninth inning and got the first two outs on a lineout and groundout. Tyler Whitaker popped out to Felix Stevens at first base to end the game and seal the no-hitter.

The Pelicans will head into the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak. Their next game will be at Charleston on Friday, July 22nd, at 7:05 p.m.