Pelicans Shutout Woodpeckers 2-0

By Sam Weiderhaft

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans won their third game in a row on Thursday night with a 2-0 shutout victory over the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. The win pushed the Pelicans to a 22-20 record while the Woodpeckers dropped to 16-25.

In a relatively quiet night for the lineup, Andy Garriola (1-4, RBI) continued his hot month of May with an RBI single. Juan Mora (2-4, 2B) tallied the only multi-hit game for the Pelicans.

Three pitchers combined for the Pelicans’ first shutout win of the year as Starlyn Pichardo (1-0) took the win with 2 1/3 innings of work and four strikeouts. Johzan Oquendo struck out five of the six batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.

The Woodpeckers were held to just three hits and left five on base while going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Starter Jose Fleury (0-3) took the loss by allowing both runs in his 5 2/3 innings off seven hits while striking out three. Reliever Jeremy Molero walked five batters in just under two innings in his outing.

After a scoreless three innings for both teams, the Pelicans took the lead in the top of the fourth. With Mora on third and one out, Garriola looped a single to right field to score the run and give the Pelicans an early lead.

The Pelicans added one more in the top of the sixth. With runners on second and third and one out, Fleury balked to score Rafael Morel and put Myrtle Beach up 2-0.

Myrtle Beach and Fayetteville will meet for game three on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.