Bailey etches name into history with win

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (August 24, 2017) - A late rally propelled Myrtle Beach to a 5-4 victory Thursday over the Down East Wood Ducks, earning Pelicans manager Buddy Bailey the 2,000th win of his managerial career at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
With Myrtle Beach (70-60, 27-33) trailing 4-2 to Down East (54-75, 30-30) in the seventh inning, the Pelicans came roaring back. Zack Short kicked off the frame with a base hit to center field. With one out in the inning, Vimael Machin singled a two-run before a double from Jesse Hodges knocked in both runners to knot the score at four. Tyler Alamo  then hit a double off Wood Ducks reliever Jacob Shortslef (0-5) to bring in Hodges and give Myrtle Beach the 5-4 advantage.

Scott Effross tossed two scoreless frames to lock down his ninth save of the season and secure win No. 2,000 for Bailey, who became the 11th manager in Minor League Baseball history to reach that plateau. 
Myrtle Beach kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Short was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. He would eventually score on an error following a one-out double from Machin. 
With the score 1-0 in the third inning, Chuck Moorman tied the game with his fifth home run of the season. With one out in the frame, Josh Altman walked before a two-out double from Josh Morgan gave the Wood Ducks a 2-1 advantage. 
Luis La O began the Wood Ducks' fourth inning with a walk. With one out, Ti'Quan Forbes doubled to left field to score La O. Moorman picked up his second RBI of the contest with a base hit to right field, scoring Forbes and extending the Down East lead to 4-1. 
Oscar De La Cruz made his first start for the Pelicans since May 25, going three innings and surrendering two earned runs on three hits. Ryan Kellogg (5-7) hurled four innings and allowed two earned runs to earn the victory in relief. 
In the bottom of the sixth, Eddy Martinez lifted a ground-rule double to right field before eventually scoring on a groundout from Trent Giambrone to make the score 4-2. 
With the victory, Myrtle Beach has now won four straight series' for the first time since taking five in a row to close the first half. The Birds have also won 11 of their last 13 games.
Myrtle Beach will welcome the Carolina Mudcats in Friday's 7:05 p.m. series opener. Pelicans RHP Mike Rucker (4-4, 2.27) makes the start against Muddies RHP Zack Brown (2-0, 2.08). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app. 
Friday's contest will feature the final Fidget Spinner Friday of the season, with the first 500 kids 12-and-under in attendance receiving a Pelicans fidget spinner. The contest will also feature Pack the Bus School Supply Drive, donate school supplies and receive 1/2 price admission.
The 2017 season is the 19th season for the Pelicans franchise and third as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2017, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.
ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last six seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last six years and the best in the Carolina League for six straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the two-time defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 and 2016 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made ten postseason appearances behind 12 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season and second half of 2016. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected]