Six-Run Fourth Helps Pelicans to Victory over RiverDogs
September 2, 2022 – Carolina League (CarL) – Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans evened the series with an 8-4 win over the Charleston RiverDogs on Friday night. With the win, the Pelicans improved to 74-50 on the year and 27-31 in the second half. Charleston now sits at 82-42 and 36-22, just 2.5 games ahead of the Columbia Fireflies for the South Division lead.
Every hitter in the Myrtle Beach lineup tallied at least one hit as the team ended with 16 for the night, 15 of which were singles. Josue Huma (1-5, 3 RBI) led the team with three runs batted in. Juan Mora (2-4, 2 RBI) and Haydn McGeary (1-5, 2B, 2 RBI) each drove in two to help the offensive effort. The Pelicans left 10 runners on and went 6-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
After navigating his way through the middle innings, Saul Gonzalez (1-1) picked up the win with one unearned run in his 3 2/3 frames. Gonzalez allowed two hits and walked two while collecting a pair of strikeouts. Starter Nick Hull went three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
All three RBI in the game came from Dominic Keegan (1-3, HR, 3 RBI) off a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Shane Sasaki (2-4, BB) logged a multi-hit performance from the leadoff spot. Willy Vasquez (2-4, 2B) hit a double and scored two runs in the defeat.
Antonio Jimenez (10-5) took the loss after allowing all six earned runs in the top of the fourth. Jimenez gave up seven hits and walked two while striking out three. Aneudy Cortorreal pitched the final two frames with a pair of earned runs.
After a scoreless three innings, the Pelicans exploded for six runs in their half of the fourth. Jimenez came in for starter Nick Bitsko and allowed a single and a walk with one out. Liam Spence lined a single up the middle to score James Triantos from second. Later in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Juan Mora hit an infield single to third with Moises Ballesteros scoring. Huma followed by getting the ball to the outfield on a two-run single that rolled to center to give the Birds a 4-0 lead. McGeary cleared the bases with a two-run double down the right-field line for a 6-0 lead.
Charleston scored first in the bottom half as Keegan came up with runners on the corners. With a 2-2 count, Keegan hit into a double play with Vasquez scoring from third to make it 6-1 Pelicans.
The next three frames were scoreless with Myrtle Beach adding two more runs in the top of the eighth. Mora was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Huma plated another run on a fielding error by Ryan Spikes at second to increase the lead to 8-1.
Keegan’s three-run homer came in the bottom half of the eighth. He took a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center for his first of the season as the lead cut to 8-4.
The RiverDogs left one on in the bottom of the ninth as Yovanny Cabrera finished it off on the mound.
Myrtle Beach and Charleston will take the field for the fifth game of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the Carolina League message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
