Pelicans pitching shutsdown the Nationals

Ryne Reynoso bounced back from a bad last outing to turn in five shutout innings, as the Pelicans bats exploded for an 8-0 win over the Nationals.

Myrtle Beach hit the scoreboard first in the third inning as Travis Jones led off the frame with a double down the left field line.  He moved to third on a Concepcion Rodriguez ground out, and scored a batter later on a Jon Mark Owings infield-single to make it 1-0 Myrtle Beach.  The run batted in was Owings eighth of the road trip and marked the fourth consecutive game in which he has collected an RBI.

Reynoso escaped a first and third jam with nobody out in the fourth inning, as Matt Rogelstad lined into a double play to help the right-hander escape harm and help the Pelicans keep their one-run lead.  In all, pitching under the weather, Reynoso (7-6) was spectacular turning in five scoreless innings on just two hits.

Jones again took matters into his own hands with a solo home run off of P-Nats’ starter Jhonny Nunez in the fifth inning.  The blast, a towering shot to left field was the 12th round-tripper for Jones on the year and increased the Pelicans lead to 2-0.

Myrtle Beach turned the game lopsided in the sixth inning as they chased Nunez from the mound.  In all, ten batters came to the plate and six scored as the Pelicans mounted an 8-0 lead.  Included in the inning were a two-run triple for Brandon Hicks and a two-run home run for Rodriguez that capped the scoring. 

Nunez left the game with one out in the sixth inning and was saddled with his seventh loss of the season.  He conceded five runs, four earned, despite striking out nine Pelicans which was one shy of his career high.

Brett Butts, Michael Broadway and Nick Fellman combined to toss four scoreless innings of relief as the Pelicans pitched their third shutout of the season.  Interestingly, it marks the second time the Pelicans have shut out the Nationals.

With the win, the Pelicans (52-31) took a one-game lead on the P-Nats for the Carolina League’s best record.