One inning's worth of runs was enough for the Pelicans to top the Keys. Myrtle Beach used a six-run fifth inning to fly by the Frederick Keys 11-4. The two teams traded blows through the games’ first three innings, but the big inning opened it up for the Birds as the took the series opener to begin a seven-game road trip.
The Keys got on the board first with a two run first inning. Pelicans’ starter Jose Ortegano struck out the first batter he faced before he allowed a double to Ryan Adams that was initially ruled a home run. After the umpires met, it was ruled a double but the point was moot as the next batter, Brandon Waring, homered to left center field to put the Keys up 2-0.
Myrtle Beach responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second off Keys’ starter Rick Zagone. Gerry Rodriguez began the frame with a double and scored on a groundball error to the shortstop off the bat of Luis Sumoza. Sumoza was caught stealing before C.J. Lee belted his second home run of the season to even the game at two.
Frederick came right back in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the two-run advantage. With the bases loaded, Adams grounded into a double play which plated Jason White from third and Billy Killian followed him home on the same play when nobody was covering the plate.
The back-and-forth game continued the next half-inning when the Birds evened it up again. With Michael Fisher at second base and Cody Johnson at first, Benji Johnson delivered a pinch-hit two-run double to score both base runners and force a 4-4 tie.
With the score even, The Pelicans rallied for a six runs in the fifth. Four singles, a double, a wild pitch and a pair of errors on the Keys’ second baseman Ryan Adams led to the six runs. Cody Johnson contributed a RBI single as did Benji Johnson and Robert Marcial. The first three runs of the inning were charged to Zagone (0-2) who ended up getting saddled with the loss. The lefty went four and one-third innings allowing seven runs on seven hits.
Brandon Beachy (2-0) picked up the win for the Pelicans as he pitched four scoreless innings, in which he allowed just one hit and struck out four. Rodriguez finished just a home run away from the cycle as part of a three-for-five game. Benji Johnson contributed three RBIs as part of his two hit game.
The series continues Saturday night as the Pelicans send lefty David Francis to the mound against left hander Zach Britton. First pitched is scheduled for 6:00 at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, MD.
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