File Tosses Gem and Feliciano Homers in 3-1 Series Clinching Win in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Dylan File pitched through six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, Mario Feliciano went 3-for-3 with a home run and Rodrigo Benoit earned his league leading sixth save as the Mudcats defeated the Pelicans 3-1 on Thursday night in Myrtle Beach. The win was File's first of the season and clinched a series win for Carolina.

The Mudcats (12-9) took two of three from the Pelicans (7-14) in the series and won four of seven in what was their second road trip of the season. 
File (1-3, 4.09) scattered five hits and left six men on base, including three in the third when he escaped a bases loaded jam. He also left a runner at third in the first, fifth and sixth innings while holding the Pelicans scoreless over six complete. File also struck out five and did not walk a batter in his six-inning gem.
File and relievers Christian Meister, Matt Hardy and Benoit (S, 6) all combined to strand 10 men on base while holding the Pelicans to just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Myrtle Beach ended up leaving at least one man on base in all but three innings in Thursday's series finale. Benoit also stranded the bases loaded in the ninth while working a two out save.
Carolina broke a scoreless tie and gave File a 2-0 lead in the fourth after scoring twice against starter Erling Moreno. Ryan Aguilar started the fourth with a single to right and eventually advanced to third on back-to-back ground outs from Tristen Lutz and Payton Henry. A two-out single from Feliciano brought in Aguilar, and after Eddie Silva walked, a second two-out single from Rob Henry plated Feliciano.
Moreno (1-3, 11.20) left the game after the two run Carolina fourth and ended up allowing just the two runs on three hits over four innings pitched. He also walked four and struck out three in the loss.
Feliciano extended the Carolina lead to 3-0 in the sixth after connecting on a home run off reliever Luis Lugo. The solo shot was Feliciano's second of the series and his fourth of the season. Feliciano finished the game with three hits, two runs, two RBI and one walk.
Lugo originally pitched a scoreless fifth following Moreno and went on to allow just one run on two hits over four innings. Lugo also walked three and struck out eight. Manny Rodriguez later worked a scoreless ninth and walked one.
The lone Pelicans' run in the game came in the seventh when Kevonte Mitchell brought in Aramis Ademan with a two-out RBI single off Meister (H, 2). The Pelicans had two hits against Meister in the seventh, but managed just the one run.
Hardy (H, 2) followed Meister and worked a scoreless eighth before finding trouble in the ninth. He started the ninth with a strikeout of D.J. Wilson, but then gave up back-to-back singles before leaving the game. Benoit followed and walked the first batter he faced before striking out Mitchell and retiring Cam Balego on a groundout to end the game.
UP NEXT: Following their seven game road trip, the Mudcats return to Five County Stadium on Friday night for game one of a three game home stand against the Potomac Nationals. Friday's game will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by post-game fireworks presented by House Autry. The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream live in full HD video on MiLB.tv.
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