Ryne Reynoso gave the Pelicans a quality start, and they increased their lead to 3 1/2 games in the division with a 4-0 triumph over Kinston on Monday night.
The Pelicans jumped to the lead and knocked Kinston starter Kelvin De La Cruz from the ballgame with three runs in the first inning. Gorkys Hernandez started the game with a side-spinning infield single to set the table. Willie Cabrera followed with an opposite-field double to put two aboard and Eric Campbell walked to load the bases. A batter later, Tyler Flowers was walked to force in Hernandez with the game's first run. Travis Jones then followed with a two-run single to plate Cabrera and Campbell and the Pelicans led 3-0. Following a walk to Concepcion Rodriguez, De La Cruz was lifted by K-Tribe manager Chris Tremie in favor of right-hander Josh Tomlin. De La Cruz was tagged with the loss
Tomlin was solid in relief, escaping a bases loaded jam in the first and holding the Pelicans at bay through the fourth inning. In the fifth inning however, Ernesto Mejia caught a fastball from the righty and torched it for a home run to left-center field to give Myrtle Beach a 4-0 advantage. Flowers followed with a single and Tomlin departed the ballgame after 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Pelicans' starter Ryne Reynoso (10-6) was sensational for Myrtle Beach, shutting out Kinston for five innings on just four singles. Reynoso struck out three and did enough to earn the win before giving way to Tyler Wilson. Wilson immediately found himself in a bases loaded predicament with one out in the sixth, but promptly struck out Johnny Drennen and Matt McBride to end the threat.
Making his first appearance of the season for Myrtle Beach, right-hander Dustin Evans returned from a shoulder injury to toss a pair of scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Evans retired all six batters that he faced.
Nick Fellman worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, but did not earn a save due to the Pelicans four-run lead entering the inning. Myrtle Beach has now posted five shutouts on the season.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 7 PM on Tuesday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. LHP Carlos Rivas (3-1, 3.74) will make the start for Myrtle Beach against RHP Carlton Smith (8-5, 4.62) for Kinston.
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