Hodges' slam lifts Birds to series win

LILLINGTON, N.C. (July 18, 2017) - Jesse Hodges' grand slam in the sixth inning of Tuesday's contest helped lift the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to a 5-4 victory over the Buies Creek Astros in the rubber match game of their three-game set from Jim Perry Stadium.
With Myrtle Beach (53-41,10-14) leading Buies Creek (54-42,17-19) 1-0 in the sixth inning, Eddy Martinez and Trent Giambrone led off the frame with back-to-back walks against Astros starter Hector Perez (4-4) before the bases became loaded with a single from Tyler Alamo. With the first three men reaching base, Hodges promptly unloaded the bases with a grand slam to left field, extending the Pelicans' lead to 5-0. 

Zack Short led off the contest for the Pelicans with a double to left field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Vimael Machin drove in Short with a single to right field, as the Birds began the contest with back-to-back hits to make the score 1-0. 
Myrtle Beach starter Duncan Robinson (1-2) dealt for the Birds, as he whiffed five Astros over five innings of one-hit ball to earn his first win as a member of the Pelicans. 
With score 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Buies Creek began their comeback attempt. Myles Straw reached with one out on a fielder's choice before swiping second base. Jake Rogers then drew a walk before advancing to third on a single from Taylor Jones that also scores Straw to make the score 5-1. Rodgers would also score in the inning on an error as the Astros plated a pair in the frame. 
Buies Creek wreaked more havoc against the Pelicans in the bottom of the eighth. Straw led off the frame with a base hit before advancing to second on a walk issued to Ryne Birk. With two men on board, Rogers laced a double to left field, plating Straw and advancing Birk to third. With the score 5-3, Anthony Hermelyn lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Birk to bring the Astros within one headed into the ninth inning. 
In that ninth, Pedro Araujo entered the contest and recorded a three-up, three-down frame to lock down his sixth save of the season.
With Myrtle Beach winning the rubber match, the series victory marks the first for the Pelicans in the second half of the season. 
Myrtle Beach will have an off day on Wednesday before hosting the Down East Wood Ducks on Thursday. The Pelicans and Wood Ducks will play a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 5:35 p.m. with LHP Ryan Kellogg (3-6, 5.19 ERA) on the mound in game one to oppose LHP Wes Benjamin (6-6, 4.44 ERA). Game two will take place 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game, and will feature Pelicans RHP Scott Effross (4-1, 4.35 ERA) against RHP Steven Bruce (2-1, 5.93 ERA). Coverage begins at 5:20 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
Thursday's contest is a Thirsty Thursday, meaning $1.00 12 oz. Bud & Bud Light draughts and $2.00 16 oz. cans from 6-8 p.m. The night will double with a special postgame Fireworks Extravaganza presented by East Coast Pyrotechnics Fireworks. 
The 2017 season is the 19th season for the Pelicans franchise and third as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2017, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.
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 each of the last six seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last six years and the best in the Carolina League for six straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the two-time defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 and 2016 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made ten postseason appearances behind 12 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season and second half of 2016. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].