Two home runs push Pelicans past Warthogs

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Pelicans bats woke up in the fourth with a five run frame en route to an 8-5 win over the Warthogs.

A Willie Cabrera three run homer in the fifth inning proved to be the difference maker in the series for Myrtle Beach.

CAROLINA LEAGUE

Northern Division
W L Pct. GB
x-Potomac (Nationals) 19 16 .543 —
Wilmington (Royals) 17 18 .486 2
Lynchburg (Pirates) 17 19 .472 2½
Frederick (Orioles) 13 23 .361 6½

Southern Division
W L Pct. GB
x-Myrtle Beach (Braves) 22 12 .647 —
Kinston (Indians) 20 15 .571 2½
Winston-Salem (White Sox) 19 16 .543 3½
Salem (Astros) 13 21 .382 9
x-won first half
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Sunday's Games
Kinston 4, Wilmington 3
Potomac 15, Frederick 5
Myrtle Beach 8, Winston-Salem 5
Salem 11, Lynchburg 3

Monday's Games
Frederick at Salem
Lynchburg at Winston-Salem
Myrtle Beach at Kinston
Wilmington at Potomac

Tuesday's Games
Frederick at Salem
Lynchburg at Winston-Salem
Myrtle Beach at Kinston
Wilmington at Potomac

- The Associated Press

C.J. Retherford got the ball rolling for the Warthogs leading off with a walk in the second.

Following a Salvador Sanchez single, Scott Diamond committed a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Francisco Hernandez to load the bases with nobody out. Gregory Paiml then hit into a fielders choice to Pelicans shortstop Brandon Hicks to drive in the first run of the ball game.

Adam Ricks stepped to the plate next for the Warthogs, and laced a two-run double into left-center field to give the visitors a 3-0 edge.

The Pelicans erased the deficit and constructed their own lead in the fourth. Gorkys Hernandez and Willie Cabrera started the frame with back-to-back singles against Jacob Rasner. Eric Campbell followed with a lined single up the gut to score Hernandez. The next batter, Ernesto Mejia, scorched a double inside the third base bag to score both Cabrera and Campbell to tie the game at 3-3. Travis Jones restarted the charge by drawing a walk. Concepcion Rodriguez gave the Pelicans their first lead as he homered on a hanging curve to give the Pelicans a 5-3 advantage.

In the fifth inning, the Pelicans widened the gap. Jon Mark Owings started the frame with a single. Following a walk to Hernandez, Cabrera blasted his 12th home run of the season over Land Shark Landing to give the Pelicans an 8-3 lead.

The Warthogs inched within four as John Shelby III, who reached on a fielding error by Eric Campbell, came into score on a wild pitch by Diamond in the sixth inning. Interestingly enough, Shelby III scored the Warthogs final run in the eighth on a wild pitch by Brett Butts to get as close as they would at 8-5.

Atlanta Braves reliever Jeff Bennett pitched his fourth scoreless inning during the week long homestand. Scott Diamond came on in the second and proceeded to pick up his ninth win of the season in six innings of work. He allowed just four hits and two earned runs. The loss was placed on Jacob Rasner, who lasted four innings and gave up six hits and seven runs.

The Pelicans hit the road for three games against the Kinston Indians before returning home to BB&T Coastal Field on Thursday, July 31st to begin a four-game series against the Lynchburg Hillcats.