Mistakes cost Myrtle Beach in fifth straight loss

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (July 27, 2017) - Eddy Martinez homered and reached base four times Thursday, but sloppy play cost the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in a 5-4 loss to the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium.
The Pelicans (55-48, 12-21) led 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, but Daniel Johnson began the frame by homering off reliever Jake Stinnett (0-1) to knot the score at four. Jack Sundberg and Austin Davidson each singled to put runners on the corners. Ian Sagdal followed with an RBI single to put Potomac (45-57, 12-20) on top at 5-4.

In the ninth inning, Tyler Pearson , who had a multi-hit game, singled. However, R.C. Orlan picked off pinch-runner Roberto Caro for the inning's first out. Zack Short finished a homer shy of the cycle, and his two-out double put the tying run on second. However, Orlan induced pinch-hitter P.J. Higgins to ground out to shortstop to end the ballgame and pick up his third save.
In the first inning, Sundberg walked with one out. Two batters later, a Sagdal single and two errors on the same play allowed Sundberg to score the game's first run. The tally broke Myrtle Beach starter Mike Rucker's 20 consecutive scoreless innings streak.
David Masters jumpstarted the second with a double. Three batters later, Bryan Mejia singled him in to give Potomac a two-run advantage.
With the same score in the third, Robert Garcia walked with one out. Two batters later, Jesse Hodges blasted a two-run home run to knot the score at two.
The score remained that way until the fifth inning. Mejia and Johnson each notched base knocks to start the frame. After a Sundberg sacrifice bunt, the Birds intentionally walked Davidson to load the bases. With the infield in, Sagdal hit an RBI groundout to again put Potomac in front at 3-2.
Myrtle Beach was finally able to secure their first lead of the game in the sixth. Hodges walked to begin the frame before Vimael Machin singled him to second. However, Potomac starter Taylor Guilbeau picked Hodges off second base. Martinez followed with a two-run shot to put the Pelicans up 4-3.
Gilberto Mendez (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win. Myrtle Beach made four errors in their season-high fifth consecutive loss.
The Pelicans send RHP Duncan Robinson (1-2, 2.84 ERA) to the mound in Friday's 7:05 p.m. contest at Potomac. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
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].