MYRTLE BEACH – After building an early three-run lead, the Pelicans watched as the Frederick Keys chipped away to tie things midway through the series opener of three in Myrtle Beach. One swing by Jesus Sucre changed all that.
According to a news release, the Pelicans backstop smoked his third home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning with the game then tied at four, a three-run shot in a four-run inning that propelled Myrtle Beach to a 9-5 win over the Keys in front of 5,135 at BB&T Coastal Field.
Like their Thursday night victory over the Kinston Indians, the Pelicans got out quickly on this night with two in the bottom of the first. After the Keys reclaimed a run in the top of the second, Ernesto Mejia followed a two-out Donell Linares walk with a two-run homer, the oft-injured slugger’s second of the season and second in as many days. Keys starter Chorye Spoone threw four innings and allowed four runs—three earned—in his first Carolina League start since 2007, the release said.
Frederick picked at the Pelicans lead with two in the fifth on an RBI single by Matt Tucker and a run-scoring wild pitch by Myrtle Beach starter Erik Cordier. Eight men stepped to the plate in that fifth inning, but Cordier was able to work out of the jam, leaving the bases loaded by striking out the side. In the sixth, Frederick pulled even, scoring a two-out run on another Tucker RBI single against Pelicans reliever Rudy Darrow (3-0).
With the game knotted, it was Sucre’s turn to shine. After Mejia grounded out to lead off the last of the sixth, Cody Johnson walked, and Gerry Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Sucre stepped into the box with both men aboard and smashed the third pitch he saw from Brian Parker to Land Shark Landing to snap the tie and put the Pelicans up 7-4. Myrtle Beach added another on a Cole Miles RBI single later in the sixth, and Mejia crushed another homer in the seventh to wrap the Pelicans’ scoring. Myrtle Beach’s Tommy Palica surrendered one Keys run in the eighth but worked two innings to close things out in the win.
The series continues with game two Saturday night at BB&T Coastal Field with first pitch between the Pelicans’ Richard Sullivan (2-11, 4.48) and the Keys’ Sean Geleason (4-6, 4.86) set for 7:05.
Tickets for all Pelicans home games are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, by calling (843)918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.
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