Four-run first not enough for Myrtle Beach in 8-5 loss to Astros

Buies Creek's six-run sixth inning too much to overcome for Pelicans

P.J. Higgins collected three hits, two RBIs while also throwing out four base runners on his 25th birthday in Thursday's loss. (Larry Kave/Myrtle Beach Pelicans)

By Zach Bigley

May 10, 2018

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 10, 2018) - Despite a four-run first inning on Thursday night, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell 8-5 to the Buies Creek Astros from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. The first six men reached for the Pelicans (13-21) in the first inning. Connor Myers doubled to lead off

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 10, 2018) - Despite a four-run first inning on Thursday night, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell 8-5 to the Buies Creek Astros from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
The first six men reached for the Pelicans (13-21) in the first inning. Connor Myers doubled to lead off the frame before P.J. Higgins singled him home to give the Birds a 1-0 lead. Following a Vimael Machin single, Wladimir Galindo ripped an RBI double to plate Higgins. Tyler Alamo followed with a two-run two-bagger of his own to make 4-0 Myrtle Beach after one inning.

The Astros (21-13) fought back with two runs in the top of the second off of Myrtle Beach starter Alex Lange (1-2). Troy Sieber bounced into a fielder's choice that scored a run and another came across to score on a throwing error to cut the Pelicans' lead to 4-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Astros exploded for six runs to take the lead for good. Ronnie Dawson singled home Alfredo Angarita to pull within one and Osvaldo Duarte gave the Astros the lead with a two-run base hit. Anibal Sierra tacked on more with a two-run double and Caroles Canelon plated another run with a base hit to make it 8-4 Astros.
An RBI single by Higgins in the seventh brought the Birds within three runs, but they could not complete the comeback. Higgins finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs on his 25th birthday. He also caught four Astros stealing.
Ronel Blanco (3-1) tossed 4.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen with six strikeouts to earn the win. Brandon Bielak pitched four innings, striking out six of his own, to pocket his first save.
The Pelicans will play game two of the four-game tilt against the Buies Creek Astros on Friday at 7:05 p.m. The Birds will send RHP Matt Swarmer (3-2, 1.32 ERA) against the Astros' RHP Hector Perez (0-1, 5.91 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.
Friday is Beer, Brats and Baseball presented by Lowes Foods with $2 Craft Drafts from 6 to 8 p.m. and buy-one-get-one free sausages all night long.
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. The park 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 as well. In June 2017, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans have 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 emailing [email protected].