Rohrbough exits early in Pelicans rout

MYRTLE BEACH – Control problems reared their ugly heads for Pelicans starter Cole Rohrbough early, and the Potomac Nationals took advantage Tuesday night.

According to a news release, the P-Nats sent Rohrbough to the showers after just two and two-thirds innings, Potomac starter Tom Milone scattered seven hits over seven innings, and the Nationals took home a 10-1 victory over Myrtle Beach in front of 4,176 at BB&T Coastal Field.

The Nationals got to Rohrbough for four runs in the top of the first, capitalizing on three straight walks to open the game by the Pelicans southpaw. Michael Burgess brought home a run on a bases-loaded single, and Francisco Plasencia brought home a pair on a two-out version of the same. Michael Burgess stole home as part of a double steal with two out to open up a 4-0 gap after the top of the first.

The Birds got their first and only run of the evening in the second when three straight Pelicans singled off Milone. Gerry Rodriguez came around to score on Robert Marcial’s base hit. Potomac got that run back and added another in the third. Base hits by Danny Espinosa, Jesus Valdez and Francisco Plasencia coupled with walks by Stephen King and Daniel Lyons led to two Nationals’ runs and the end of Rohrbough’s day. Rohrbough (4-5) departed with two out in the third and was charged with six runs on five hits, walking a season high-tying five while striking out three, the release said.

The Pelicans kept the P-Nats off the board from the fourth through the sixth behind resurgent reliever Michael Broadway. The right-hander tossed three and two-thirds innings and allowed one run in the seventh on three total hits over his night.  Broadway struck out four without issuing a free pass. Fellow righty Benino Pruneda surrendered an inherited run in the seventh and three more in the eighth, his two-thirds of an inning spanning those two frames. Craig Kimbrel and Rudy Darrow each threw a perfect inning and combined for five strikeouts in the eighth and ninth.

Milone (4-3) allowed seven hits over his first four frames, but Myrtle Beach’s offense stalled against the left-hander after that. Only two Pelicans reached from the fifth inning on, neither of them by hit and neither against Milone. Cole Miles and C.J. Lee worked leadoff walks versus Potomac reliever Chris Rivera in the eighth, but the Pelicans didn’t convert either.

The three-game series continues tomorrow evening with a 7:05 scheduled start time. Charlotte Bobcats guard and Latta, South Carolina native Raymond Felton is slated to be on hand to throw out the first pitch prior to the game.

Tickets are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, by calling the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.