Pelicans blow lead to Kinston

The Pelicans took a two run lead in the 6th inning against Kinston, but let the game slip through their fingers, as the Indians pull off a 4-3 win at BB&T Coastal Field. All square heading into the ninth inning, the K-Tribe scored an unearned run on a chaotic play in which Willie Cabrera committed a throwing error that scored Carlos Rivero to put Kinston up for good. The Pelicans have now dropped three consecutive games, tied for their longest losing streak of the season.

The K-Tribe took the first lead of the game in the top of the fourth. The inning started with an error by Ernesto Mejia on a groundball up the first base line that put Niuman Romero on base. After being sacrificed into scoring position, Romero completed his trip around the bases on a double by Alex Castillo.

The Pelicans responded quickly in their half of the fourth. Brandon Powell led off the inning with a single. With one out, Tyler Flowers drew a walk and Phillip Britton was plunked with a fastball to push Powell to third. Willie Cabrera followed by ripping an infield single down the third base line that scored Powell and knotted the game at 1-1.

The Pelicans took their first advantage of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Brandon Hicks started the rally with a one out single. Then, Ernesto Mejia laced his fourth triple of the season to the right field corner that scored Hicks to give the Pelicans a 2-1 lead. Brandon Powell followed Mejia’s lead by hitting a run scoring single to right center to stretch the lead to 3-1.

The Pelicans lead quickly faded and was extinguished in the top of the sixth. Niuman Romero led off the frame with a perfectly placed bunt single. He came around to score on a blistered double to left field by Cirilo Cumberbatch. Johnny Drennen followed with a run scoring single to tie the game at three apiece.

The K-Tribe stole the lead back from the Pelicans in the ninth. With Carlos Rivero at first, Jerad Head laced a single to right. On the play, Rivero raced from second to third as Willie Cabrera overthrew Powell at third. The ball also squirted past reliever Jeff Lyman and catcher Tyler Flowers, allowing Rivero to score.

Pelicans starter Kyle Cofield pitched well in five innings of work but did not factor into the decision. Cofield maneuvered his way out of dicey situations all night and did not allow an earned run. Brett Butts replaced Cofield in the sixth and performed admirably in three innings on the hill. After allowing two runs in the sixth, he settled in and blanked the K-Tribe in the seventh and eighth innings. Jeff Lyman was saddled with a tough luck loss, as the game’s winning run crossed the plate while he was on the mound.

The Pelicans play game two of their series against the K-Tribe on Wednesday, May 21st at 7:05 p.m. The Pelicans will send RHP Ryne Reynoso (3-2, 4.05) to the mound, while Kinston will counter with RHP Carlton Smith (1-2, 4.40).