Dash slug their way past Pelicans

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JULY 7, 2014) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, took a game one loss to the Winston-Salem Dash at BB&T Ballpark on Monday evening. Winston-Salem right-hander Tyler Danish posted six scoreless frames on the way to the win before Myrtle Beach scored a run in the seventh and ninth on RBI doubles from outfielder Royce Bolinger. The Winston-Salem collected nine hits in the game, eight of which went for extra bases, including three triples and a home run.

The best chance to score off of Danish came in the first inning for the Pelicans (11-8, 55-32). Christopher Bostick tripled to right-center field with one out. Danish then struck out Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro to get out of the jam.

Myrtle Beach managed just two more baserunners off of him. Luis Mendez singled with one out in the third and Williams led off the fourth with a single. Danish struck out seven and did walk a single Pelican.

Pelicans starter Victor Payano allowed three baserunners in the first but kept the Dash off the scoreboard. In the second, the bottom of the lineup began their outstanding day. Michael Marjama singled in front of back-to-back triples from Zach Voight and Cleuluis Rondon to score a pair. Jacob May brought another run across with a sacrifice fly to put Winston-Salem (10-9, 40-48) ahead 3-0.

The Dash added two more runs in the fourth. Marjama doubled to set the table for Rondon, who blasted his first home run of 2014 to extend the lead to 5-0.

The bottom four hitters in the Dash lineup with 8-for-16 with seven extra base hits and five RBI.

Danish was lifted after six innings, and the Pelicans scored off of the bullpen in the seventh. Alfaro knocked a one-out single off of Dave Putnam. Bolinger then clubbed his first of two RBI doubles, bringing Alfaro around from first to cut the lead to 5-1.

In his return to the Pelicans, knuckleballer Kevin Pucetas tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Payano. He walked two but did not allow a hit and struck out two.

Abel De Los Santos surrendered a run in the bottom of the eighth, as Winston-Salem pulled ahead 6-1.

 The Pelicans rallied in the ninth, but it fell short. Williams opened the frame with a single off of Jose Bautista, the third Dash pitcher of the night. With one out, Bolinger doubled in Williams to trim the lead to 6-2. Then David Lyon walked to put the tying run on deck, but Edwin Garcia flied out to right field and Kevin Torres struck out looking to end the ballgame.

Danish (2-1) picked up the win, his second, while Payano (3-6) suffered his second straight defeat.

The Birds continue the series on Tuesday at BB&T Ballpark against the Dash; first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Luis Parra (7-4, 4.13 ERA) toes the rubber for Myrtle Beach against J.B. Wendelken (5-7, 4.44 ERA) in a rematch of a 4-1 Pelicans win last Thursday in Myrtle Beach. Both games can be heard live on WRNN AM 1450 ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Hampton Inn Pregame Show at 6:40 p.m.

The Pelicans return home July 11 to open a four-game series with the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Season Seats, Mini Plans, Flex Books, and single game tickets are available to see the Pelicans in 2014. For more information on tickets, please call (843) 918-6002, e-mail [email protected], visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, or visit the Pelicans box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.