Twenty hit barrage buries Dash

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JULY 9, 2014) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, scored the final ten runs of the game to win 12-3 over the Dash at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem on Wednesday night. Nick Williams paced the offense with a season-high four hits, including three for extra bases, and Lewis Brinson doubled and knocked in three runs in his Pelicans debut.

After a scoreless first inning, one of four Winston-Salem errors opened up the Pelicans second-inning rally. Preston Beck reached on a blunder by Dash second baseman Joey DeMichele. With one out, Beck was singled to third by David Lyon on a line drive to right field. Edwin Garcia flared a single to left field to plate Beck and to give the Pelicans the lead.

Luis Mendez then bunted his way on to load the bases, and Chris Garia notched an infield single to add a second run.

Winston-Salem (11-10, 41-49), however, would soon take the lead. They loaded the bases but failed to score on Pelicans starter Chad Bell in the second. In the third, Jacob May opened the frame with a double and stole third base, setting things up for Keenyn Walker who drove him home with an infield single. Three batters later, Keon Barnum doubled to deep center field to tie the game.

The Dash added another run in the fourth to pull ahead 3-2.

Myrtle Beach (12-9, 56-33) knocked around Dash right-hander Tony Bucciferro in the fifth. The first four batters all picked up hits in the inning, which included Brinson's first Pelicans hit, an RBI double to put the Birds ahead 5-3. The Pelicans scored four in the inning and led 6-3.

Bell tossed a scoreless fifth to finish his night. In his fifth outing, he allowed three runs, all earned, on seven hits and two walks en route to his fourth win as a Pelican this season. He struck out a season-high four batters.

The Pelicans tacked on two more runs in the sixth and another four runs in the seventh. Myrtle Beach had a hit in all but one inning. Six of the nine Pelicans batters had two or more hits, all nine had at least one hit, and eight of the nine scored runs. Williams had four hits and Garia, Christopher Bostick, and Mendez all smacked three hits.

Ryan Bores tossed four scoreless innings to close the game out and pick up his first save of the season.

He faced just one over the minimum, allowing three hits and no walks and inducing two double plays. He struck out one.

Bell (4-0) earned the win, his fourth in five outings with the Pelicans. Bucciferro (6-8) suffered a loss for the third straight outing.

The Pelicans can split the series with a win on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark against the Dash in the series finale at 7:00 p.m. Martire Garcia (1-1, 0.87 ERA) makes his first start since 2011, squaring off against Terance Marin (2-0, 2.33 ERA). The game 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.