Garcia and Chourio Both Homer in 5-3 Loss

Myrtle Beach 5 @ Carolina 3

June 10, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:03 PM | Att : 4,451 | T : 2:32

MB: 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 5 3 1

CAR: 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 6 0

WP: Porter Hodge (4 - 1) LP: Carlos Rodriguez (2 - 2) SV: Alfredo Zarraga (1)

ZEBULON – Eduardo Garcia hit a solo home run in the sixth and Jackson Chourio hit a solo home run in the eighth, but the Myrtle Beach Pelicans outlasted the Carolina Mudcats 5-3 while earning a series tying victory on Friday night at Five County Stadium. The first-place Mudcats fell into a 2-2 tie in their current series with the Pelicans, but remained atop the Carolina League North standings by one game ahead of both Lynchburg and Fredericksburg.

The Mudcats (30-25) led first after Garcia brought in the game’s first run with an infield single in the third. That early run gave the Mudcats a 1-0 lead, but the Pelicans (38-17) bounced back with three runs in the fourth, two of which were brought in on a two-run home run by Kevin Alcantara, while the other scored on a wild pitch lost by starter Carlos Rodriguez. Myrtle Beach went on to score once more in the fifth and one last run in the seventh while holding on for the two-run victory.

Rodriguez (2-2) started and took the loss despite allowing just one hit over four innings. That one hit was Alcantara’s home run and erased what was a 1-0 lead for the Mudcats. He also walked three and struck out five while taking his first loss since April 15.

Christian Tripp pitched the fifth and sixth, with his lone run allowed coming on a two-out triple by James Triantos in the fifth. Junior Montero worked the seventh and also allowed a run, thus snapping a streak of 10 straight scoreless appearances. Jakob Brustoski walked two and hit a batter before escaping the eighth with three strikeouts and a scoreless frame. Michele Vassalotti later pitched the ninth and struck out the side.

Porter Hodge earned the win for the Pelicans after holding Carolina to a run and two hits over five innings. Hodge (4-1) struck out seven and walked one in the victory. Relievers Luis Rodriguez and Alfredo Zarraga pitched the final four frames with Rodriguez allowed Garcia’s home run in the sixth and Zarraga (S, 1) giving up Chourio’s home run. Zarraga picked up the save after holding Carolina to just one run over the final two and 2/3 innings.

The Myrtle Beach victory evened the series at 2-2 and kept them in a tie for first in the Carolina League South standings. The series will continue on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium.

HOME RUNS:

Myrtle Beach: Alcantara (7, 4th inning off Rodriguez, 1 on, 1 out).

Carolina: Garcia, E (4, 6th inning off Rodriguez, Luis A., 0 on, 1 out); Chourio (6, 8th inning off Zarraga, 0 on, 2 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Garcia, E, SS (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Chourio, CF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Triantos, 3B (Myrtle Beach): 1-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Preciado, 2B (Myrtle Beach): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Tripp (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Montero (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Brustoski (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

Vassalotti (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Hodge (W, 4-1) (Myrtle Beach): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

Rodriguez, Luis A. (H, 4) (Myrtle Beach): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Zarraga (S, 1) (Myrtle Beach): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 1, Pelicans 0) -- Jose Sibrian hit by pitch. Luis Silva singles to right field, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas grounds into double play, Kevin Made to Reginald Preciado to Matt Warkentin, Jose Sibrian to 3rd; Luis Silva out at 2nd, Jheremy Vargas out at 1st. Eduardo Garcia singles to shallow left field, Jose Sibrian scores. Jackson Chourio strikes out swinging.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Pelicans 4th (Pelicans 3, Mudcats 1) -- Kevin Made walks. James Triantos strikes out swinging. Kevin Alcantara hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Kevin Made scores. Matt Warkentin walks. Jacob Wetzel flies out to Jackson Chourio. Ethan Hearn walks, Matt Warkentin to 2nd. Matt Warkentin advances to 3rd on a balk; Ethan Hearn advances to 2nd on a balk. Wild pitch by Carlos Rodriguez, Matt Warkentin scores; Ethan Hearn to 3rd. Reginald Preciado strikes out swinging.

(3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Pelicans 5th (Pelicans 4, Mudcats 1) -- Pitcher Change: Christian Tripp replaces Carlos Rodriguez. Frank Hernandez struck out looking. Ezequiel Pagan strikes out swinging. Kevin Made walks. James Triantos triples to right field, Kevin Made scores. Kevin Alcantara pops out to Jheremy Vargas.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Pelicans 4, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Luis Angel Rodriguez replaces Porter Hodge. Jheremy Vargas strikes out swinging. Eduardo Garcia hits a home run to left field on a 2-1 pitch. Jackson Chourio flies out to Frank Hernandez. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Pelicans 7th (Pelicans 5, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Junior Montero replaces Christian Tripp. Reginald Preciado bunt singles to shallow left field. Frank Hernandez hit by pitch, Reginald Preciado to 2nd. Wild pitch by Junior Montero, Reginald Preciado to 3rd; Frank Hernandez to 2nd. Ezequiel Pagan walks. Kevin Made out on a sacrifice fly to Jackson Chourio, Reginald Preciado scores; Frank Hernandez to 3rd; Ezequiel Pagan to 2nd. James Triantos strikes out on foul tip. Kevin Alcantara pops out to Eduardo Garcia.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Pelicans 5, Mudcats 3) -- Jheremy Vargas strikes out on foul tip. Eduardo Garcia struck out looking. Jackson Chourio hits a home run to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)