Birds fall to Carolina despite Thompson's near perfecto

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (June 14, 2018) - After Keegan Thompson was removed following seven perfect innings for the Pelicans on Thursday, the Carolina Mudcats exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to beat Myrtle Beach 4-1 from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
Thompson fired seven perfect innings before being removed from the game after 84 pitches for Tyler Peyton (2-2) with the Pelicans (33-33) ahead 1-0. A one-out single by Mario Feliciano spoiled the perfect game bid. Carolina loaded the bases for Ryan Aguilar, who lined a three-run triple to right to give the Mudcats (31-35) a 3-1 advantage. Rob Henry then singled up the middle to plate Aguliar and make it 4-1.

Thompson was brilliant in his start. The former Auburn Tiger struck out eight over his seven flawless innings. 
While he was outdone by Thompson, Carolina starter Breden Webb struck out a career-high 10 batters over 5.2 innings in his no-decision. Daniel Brown (2-3) earned the win with his 2.1 scoreless frames while Luke Barker saved his fourth game on the year with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. 
Myrtle Beach struck first in the second inning. Luis Ayala singled on a grounder up the middle to plate Wladimir Galindo and make it 1-0. 
The Pelicans take on Carolina at 7:05 p.m. on Friday for the second contest of the five-game, four-day series from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Tyson Miller  (6-4, 3.38 ERA) goes for the Birds against Muddies RHP Victor Diaz (2-4, 4.61 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
On a First Responder Friday, all first responders receive half-price tickets courtesy of 707 Indoor Shooting Range and Goldfinch Winslow Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Fans can also enjoy $2 craft drafts from 6-8 p.m., and buy-one, get-one free Lowes Foods sausages.
The 2018 season is the 20th season for the Pelicans franchise and fourth as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For tickets visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/tickets, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Box Office.
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. Since being acquired by a group led by Chuck Greenberg during the 2006 season, the Pelicans have repeatedly set team attendance records and become known as one of Minor League Baseball's most innovative and creative franchises. The team and its employees have been dedicated to making a difference in the Myrtle Beach community, specifically giving back over $2 million in donations, fundraising proceeds, in-kind services and community service since launching the Pelicans Play It Forward Community Initiative in 2013. TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in six of the last seven seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences and the best in the Carolina League for six of the past seven seasons. In June 2017, the Pelicans won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. On the field, the team has won four Mills Cup Championships, including claims to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and again in 2015 and 2016. The Pelicans have made 11 postseason appearances behind 13 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, second half of 2016 and first half of 2017. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or email [email protected].