The Pelicans took a 4-0 lead after the first and never looked back, clobbering the Keys 10-0 in their biggest shutout of the season. With the victory, the Pelicans are the first Carolina League team to 20 wins in the second half of the year.
The Pelicans wasted no time establishing a lead in the bottom of the first. Gorkys Hernandez set the table by drawing a walk. Following a single by Willie Cabrera, Eric Campbell walked to load the bases. Then, Ernesto Mejia delivered a two-run double down the left field line to give the Pelicans a 2-0 edge.
Travis Jones then bounced out to second, which allowed Campbell to score from third. Concepcion Rodriguez joined the action by singling home Mejia to give the Birds an early 4-0 lead.
In the second, Hernandez doubled to start the frame. Later in the inning, Travis Jones connected on an RBI single to give the Pelicans a 5-0 lead. Campbell and Mejia were both on-base courtesy of walks.
The Pelicans found two strokes of power in the bottom of the fourth. Eric Campbell led off the frame with a towering home run that cleared Land Shark Landing. Ernesto Mejia followed suit with a long home run of his own to push the lead to 7-0. It was the third time the Birds have hit back-to-back home runs this season.
Travis Jones contributed a two-run double into the right-center field gap in the fifth inning to give the Pelicans a 9-0 advantage. Jones finished the night 2-5 with four RBIs.
The lead was more than necessary for Pelicans starter Ryne Reynoso, who turned in one of his best starts of the year. In six innings, he allowed just four hits, while fanning five batters. Tyler Wilson and Jaye Chapman combined to complete the shutout bid in the final three innings.
The Pelicans and the Keys collide in the series finale on Wednesday, July 23rd at BB&T Coastal Field. The Pelicans will send RHP Kyle Cofield (7-6, 3.87) to the hill, while the Keys will counter with RHP Jake Arrieta (6-5, 3.06
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