Myrtle Beach – A wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning by Jeff Broadway allowed Wilmington to score the deciding go ahead run in a 3-2 win over the Pelicans. Tyler Chambliss then shut down Myrtle Beach in the home half of the inning to force a rubber game on Monday.
The Pelicans grabbed the early lead in the first inning with the bases loaded, Tyler Flowers drew his 63rd walk on the season to force in the first run of the game. The base on balls allowed Flowers to pass Carl Loadenthal for third all-time in walks for a season.
Wilmington answered in the top of the second. Cody Strait lead off by placing a perfect bunt for a single up the third base line. Kurt Mertins followed by drawing a walk. Strait advanced to third on a long fly out to center by Josh Johnson. Pelicans starter Jeff Lyman threw wild to first base on a pickoff move that allowed Strait to score.
The Pelicans surged ahead in the bottom of the third on the strength of the 14th home run for Travis Jones. The home run, which sailed over Land Shark Landing, tied Jones for the team lead with Brandon Hicks.
In the fourth, the Blue Rocks knotted the score at 2-2. Kurt Mertins and Josh Johnson started the frame with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Then, Jeff Howell scorched a line drive off the right hip of Lyman that allowed Mertins to score the tying run.
The score remained tied at two until the Blue Rocks plated the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth. Anthony Sertatelli smoked a one-out triple to the right field corner. Then, on an attempted pitch out, Michael Broadway sailed the ball two feet over the glove hand of Flowers, giving Seratelli ample time to score the go-ahead run.
Although Blue Rocks starter Ed Cegarra did not factor into the decision, he turned in a tremendous seven inning outing. He surrendered just five hits and two runs. Reliever Aaron Hartsock picked up the win by working a perfect eighth inning. Pelicans reliever Michael Broadway was saddled with the loss. Besides the wild pitch, Broadway controlled the Blue Rocks in four innings.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement