Tyler Flowers hit a lead-changing grand slam in the bottom of the 8th inning, and the Pelicans prevailed over Salem, 7-5 at BB&T Coastal Field on Wednesday night. The Pelicans have won all five series openers against the Salem this season.
The Pelicans were in complete control of the ballgame after four innings of play. In the first, the Pelicans took an early 1-0 lead. Travis Jones lead off with a flare single to right-center. Then, Willie Cabrera hit a rocket through the alley in left-center to score Jones from first. In the fourth, the Pelicans tacked on two more runs to grab a 3-0 lead. Eric Campbell started the frame with a double down the left-field line. One batter later, Concepcion Rodriguez blistered a single back up the middle to score Campbell. Then, with Flowers aboard at third courtesy of an error by Jhon Florentino, Jon Mark Owings hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
The game changed hands in the top of the fifth and the Avalanche took a 4-3 lead. Jimmy Van Ostrand stroked a double to start the frame. One batter later, Brian Bogusevic knocked an RBI single to right to score Van Ostrand. Scott Diamond and the Pelicans defensive unraveled and the Salem Avalanche were able to score three more runs. Jhon Florentino, Nick Moresi and Roberto Mena all came into score as the Avalanche sent nine batters to the plate.
In the sixth, Van Ostrand stretched the advantage to 5-3 with a solo homer over the left-center field wall.
The score held until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Pelicans figured out reliever Jason Dominguez. Willie Cabrera began the rally with a sharply hit double up the left field line. Ernesto Mejia got aboard on a slow rolling infield single. Eric Campbell followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. Tyler Flowers exploded on a fastball and crushed it off the batters eye in dead center field to give the Pelicans a 7-5 lead.
In the ninth, Nick Fellman slammed the door on the Avalanche to give the Pelicans a come-from-behind win.
Reliever Cory Gearrin (1-0) was extremely impressive in his debut on the mound. The right-hander displayed a drastic break on his slider that kept the Avalanche off balance. In two innings, he allowed zero hits and zero runs, while fanning four. Gearrin actually struck out the side in the seventh.
The Pelicans and the Avalanche will square off in game two on Thursday, July 10th at 7:05 p.m. RHP Ryne Reynoso (7-6, 3.31) will go for Myrtle Beach, while the Salem Avalanche have yet to name a starter.
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