Myrtle Beach Pelicans Defeat Salem Avalanche 10-6 in Season Finale

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Myrtle Beach, S.C.- The series finale in Salem, Virginia could have been compared to a roller-coaster.  The Myrtle Beach Pelicans (18-12) finally took control in the sixth inning and defeated the Salem Avalanche (13-16) 10-6 in the topsy-turvy series finale.  During their seven game road trip, the Pelicans won five of their seven games, while earning series wins over both the Lynchburg Hillcats and the Salem Avalanche.

 

 The Pelicans didn’t waste any time putting the Avalanche in a deep hole.  After Travis Jones grounded out to start the game, Brandon Hicks launched his team-high fifth home run of the season.  Following Tyler Flowers’ 23rd walk of the year, Ernesto Mejia continued his stellar play by lacing a triple to right field that scored Flowers from first.  The next hitter, Brandon Powell, brought home Mejia with an RBI single to left that gave the Pelicans a 3-0 lead after a half inning.



 As quickly as the Pelicans built their lead, the Avalanche crumbled it.  In the bottom of the first, Jordan Parraz set the table by drawing a walk and stealing second.  Then, Tim Torres tripled home Parraz to cut the deficit to 3-1.  With Torres 90 feet away, Jhon Florentino hit a fly ball to right field that was deep enough to bring home Torres and draw the Avalanche within one. Salem evened the score in the bottom of the fourth.  First baseman Mark Ori opened the frame with a double to right field.  Ori advanced to third on a ground out by James Van Ostrand.  With two outs, Nicholas Moresi hit a ground ball to third that Brandon Powell booted, allowing Ori to score.

 

 Brandon Powell redeemed himself for the error with a big hit in the top of the fifth.  Travis Jones singled to lead off the inning.  He was then sacrificed to second by Brandon Hicks.  After Flowers flew out to right, Ernesto Mejia was intentionally walked.  The scene was set for Powell, who followed by ripping a double to deep center field that brought home both runners to give the Pelicans a 5-3 edge.

 

 The see-saw battle continued as the Avalanche answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead.  Two walks and a throwing error by Gonzalo Lopez on a pickoff attempt put runners at second and third with one out.  Jhon Florentino took full advantage by delivering a run scoring single to cut the lead to 5-4.  Mark Ori then singled home Tim Torres to tie the game at 5-5.  With Florentino at third and Ori at first, Koby Clemens, the son of Roger Clemens, hit a fly ball to right that Owings caught and doubled off Ori.  In the process Florentino was able to score before Ori was doubled off at first to give the Avalanche a 6-5 lead.

 

 Not surprisingly, the back-and-forth action went uninterrupted in the Pelicans half of the sixth.  Willie Cabrera and Phillip Britton ignited the charge with back-to-back singles to begin the frame.  Then, Concepcion Rodriguez hit an RBI knock to left that scored Cabrera to square the game at 6-6.  After Britton made his way to third on a groundout by Jones, he was brought home on an RBI groundout by Brandon Hicks to give the Pelicans the lead back.

 

 The Pelicans tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings.  Travis Jones, who went 2-5 with two runs scored, led off with a single.  He advanced to second after Hicks was issued a walk.  Then, Avalanche reliever Josh Appell delivered a wild pitch to move Jones to third.  One batter latter, Coby Clemens misplayed an Appell offering that allowed Jones to score from third.  In the ninth, Willie Cabrera added his third home run off the season over the left field wall.  Later in the inning, Brandon Hicks hit a run scoring single up the middle to bring home Phillip Britton.

 

 Pelicans starter Gonzalo Lopez picked up his first win of the season.  Avalanche starter Corey Bass did not factor into the decision.  Each starter allowed six runs to the opposition.  Chris Vines was outstanding in relief of Lopez.  He replaced Lopez in the sixth and went onto finish off the Avalanche to pick up a four inning save.  Vines has not surrendered a run in his last seven innings on the mound.


 

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