Three-Run Ninth Downs Pelicans 6-3 against GreenJackets

Myrtle Beach is now 6-13 in August

By Sam Weiderhaft

Heading to the ninth inning in a 3-3 tie, the Augusta GreenJackets plated three runs in their half to pull away with a 6-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the first game of the series on Tuesday night. The loss dropped the Pelicans to a 70-45 record and 23-26 in the second half. The GreenJackets improved to 59-55 with a 23-25 second-half record.

Myrtle Beach racked up 14 hits, all singles in the loss. Moises Ballesteros (2-5, 2 RBI) brought home two in a single in the third and reached on a bunt single as well. Parker Chavers (1-5, RBI) brought home a run on a groundout in the third as well. Josue Huma (3-5) led the Pelicans with three hits in the defeat.

After not allowing an earned run through 14 innings with the Pelicans, Gregori Montano (1-1) sacrificed the three earned runs in the top of the ninth to take the loss. Montano hit two batters while allowing three hits and a walk. Frankie Scalzo also allowed two earned runs in his 2 1/3 innings. Starter Didier Vargas lasted just over five frames with one earned run off five hits and a walk while striking out five.

Augusta also totaled double-digit hits with 12 for the game, 11 of which were singles. David McCabe (2-4, 3 RBI, BB) collected three RBI off a pair of singles. Drake Baldwin (2-3, RBI, 2 BB) smashed a pair of singles while walking twice to reach base four times. He drew the bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth to put the GreenJackets in front.

With two innings in relief, Tyler Owens (5-2) picked up the win by keeping the Birds scoreless and allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. Rob Griswold took the save by pitching the final frame. Starter Jorge Bautista lasted six innings with 11 hits allowed and three earned runs.

The Pelicans led off the bottom of the third with three-straight singles. Chavers came up with the bases loaded and hit a groundout to first as Liam Spence came in to score to put Myrtle Beach in front 1-0. With runners on second and third, Ballesteros rolled a two-run single to right-center field as the Pelicans went up 3-0.

Augusta scored first in the top of the sixth with one out. Scalzo replaced Vargas and allowed an RBI single to McCabe with runners on first and second to cut the lead to 3-1. Scalzo struck out the following two batters to end the frame.

The lead held to the top of the eighth when the GreenJackets scored two to tie it. With runners on second and third and one out, Keshawn Ogans hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Kevin Kilpatrick. Ignacio Alvarez followed with an RBI single to right that tied the game 3-3.

As Myrtle Beach left runners on base in every inning, Augusta came up in the top of the ninth and loaded the bases with one out. After Montano struck out Alvarez for the second out, Baldwin drew a five-pitch walk to bring in Kilpatrick from third as the GreenJackets took a 4-3 lead. McCabe followed with a two-run single to center field to extend the lead to 6-3.

Myrtle Beach and Augusta will meet for the second game of the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.