Birds outlast Blue Rocks in slugfest, snap seven-game skid

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (August 10, 2018) - Behind three home runs in a five-run third inning, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans snapped a season-worst seven-game skid on Friday night in a 6-5 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks in front of 5,664 fans from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the Pelicans' (51-65, 17-29) offense exploded against Blue Rocks (59-57, 28-18) starter Nolan Watson (6-2). Zach Davis smashed his first homer in a Pelicans uniform, a solo home run the opposite way down the left field line, to make it 2-1. After Aramis Ademan and Jhonny Pereda drew two-out walks, Jared Young crushed an opposite field home runof his own, his fifth of the year, to give the Birds a 4-2 lead. Andruw Monasterio then capped a five-run frame by going back-to-back with Young for his third home run of the season. 

Meibrys Viloria, who ripped a two-run home run in the second to give the Blue Rocks the lead, closed the gap to 5-4 with a two-run double. 
The Birds answered back immediately with a sacrifice fly from Tyler Alamo to score Roberto Caro after he stole both second and third following a single. 
In the top of the ninth inning, Brewer Hicklen brought the Blue Rocks within one, 6-5, with a solo homer. Tyler Peyton wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam to earn his eighth save on the year.
Cory Abbott (3-5) earned the win for the Pelicans, throwing five innings while allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. 
The Pelicans continue their three-game series with Wilmington on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. The Birds send LHP Bryan Hudson  (6-9, 4.30 ERA) to the mound against Wilmington RHP Andres Sotillet (1-3, 5.55 ERA). Television coverage begins at 6 p.m. on The CW21 and MiLB.tv. A radio broadcast starts at 5:50 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn. 
The first 1,000 fans through the gate on Saturday will receive an Ian Happ and Gleyber Torres combination bobblehead. In addition, it is Locals Appreciation Saturday, featuring $3 off tickets for fans with a local ID, as well as an Embrace a Veteran Saturday presented by Embrace Hospice. After the game, East Coast Pyrotechnics presents a fireworks extravaganza. 
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].