Myrtle Beach offense lags in 5-1 loss

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 16, 2017) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans could not overcome a quick start from the Buies Creek offense, and the Astros took Tuesday's contest 5-1 at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.  
Buies Creek (24-15) kicked off the contest by scoring a pair of runs the first inning off Myrtle Beach (21-18) starter Adbert Alzolay (3-1). Myles Straw drew a leadoff walk, then came in to score on a Jason Martin two-run home run to left field to give the Astros the lead just two batters into the game. 

The Astros would tack onto their lead in the second. With Randy César on first base, Anibal Sierra doubled to left field to put runners on second and third with one out. The next batter, Arturo Michelena, traded places with Sierra at second base with a two-run double to left field which extended the Astros' lead to 4-0. 
The Astros would add their final run of the contest in the eighth inning. With Straw reaching first base via a walk, Jake Rogers and Eduardo De Oleo hit back-to-back singles to drive in Straw to give Buies Creek a five-run cushion. 
Myrtle Beach would score their first and only run in the bottom of the ninth, as the Birds would remain the only team in the Carolina League to not be shut out this season. Eddy Martinez singled with one out in the inning, then was joined on base by Matt Rose , who followed Martinez with a walk. With two runners on base, Tyler Alamo laced his second hit of the contest back up the middle to drive in Martinez and put Myrtle Beach on the board.
The Pelicans offense was unable to get going against Buies Creek's starter Hector Perez (2-1), who was terrific in striking out seven Pelicans through six shutout innings. Yohan Ramirez tossed the final three innings for the Astros en route to his first save of the season in Buies Creek's 5-1 game two victory over Myrtle Beach. 
Alzolay ceded four runs on three hits in seven innings, whiffing seven against one walk. After Michelena's RBI double in the second, he retired the final 17 Astros he faced. 
Myrtle Beach will send RHP Thomas Hatch (0-3, 6.11 ERA) to the mound Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. to oppose LHP Brett Adcock (0-1, 18.90) for Buies Creek. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
Wednesday's contest will be a Weiner Wednesday, meaning BOGO hot dogs all night long. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
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].