Despite two first-inning runs, Myrtle Beach falls in fifth straight

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (June 15, 2018) - Victor Diaz's seven strong innings for the Carolina Mudcats were too much for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night in a 4-2 loss from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
Diaz (3-4) allowed two first-inning runs for the Mudcats (32-35), but then yielded just one hit over his next six innings of work. The righty surrendered two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking two. 

The Pelicans (33-34) struck first in the first inning when Andruw Monasterio crossed the plate on a wild pitch. P.J. Higgins then drove in Jhonny Pereda with an RBI single to make it 2-0. 
The Muddies fought back to take the lead in the third inning. Ryan Aguilar scored on an error to put the Mudcats on the board before Tucker Neuhaus and Weston Wilson banged back-to-back doubles to make it 3-2 Carolina. 
Dallas Carroll bashed a solo home run in the fifth to increase the Mudcats' lead to 4-2.
Tyson Miller (6-5) took the loss for the Birds, allowing four runs over his 5.2 innings. 
Jose Paulino was brilliant out of the bullpen for the Pelicans, ceding just one hit over his 3.1 innings while striking out five and not walking a batter. 
The Pelicans take on Carolina for a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one is set to begin at 4:05 p.m. while the second game will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Erick Leal  (0-0, 0.00 ERA) goes for the Birds in game one against Muddies LHP Cam Roegner (6-3, 1.64 ERA). In game two, RHP Casey Bloomquist (1-0, 2.06) will start for the Pelicans. Coverage begins at 3:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn for game one. In addition, will be broadcast. 
Saturday marks the third of four photo baseball giveaways in June as the first 1,000 fans will recieve an Atlanta Braves photo baseball. 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. 
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].