Monasterio extends on-base streak in 7-3 loss

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (June 27, 2018) - Andruw Monasterio extended his on-base streak to a Carolina League-high 19 games, but the Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell 7-3 Wednesday to the Buies Creek Astros from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
Buies Creek (42-34, 5-2) starter Cristian Javier (3-0) was dominant over seven shutout innings, striking out eight while scattering four hits and one walk to earn the win.

The Astros jumped on the board early on. Osvaldo Duarte doubled against Myrtle Beach (35-42, 1-6) starter Alex Lange (4-5) to start the second inning before scoring on a wild pitch coupled with a Pelicans error. Corey Julks followed with a base hit and moved to second on a walk. Two batters later, Chuckie Robinson singled him in to make it 2-0.
Buies Creek extended their advantage in the fifth. Robinson and Jonathan Arauz began the frame with singles to put runners on the corners. Jacob Meyers' sacrifice fly made it 3-0 before Cody Bohanek singled. Abraham Toro then launched a three-run home run to extend the margin to 6-0.
With the same score in the eighth, Duarte doubled again to leadoff. Julks followed with an RBI double to put the tally at 7-0.
Myrtle Beach tried to come back late in the contest. Down 7-0 in the bottom of the ninth, D.J. Wilson walked and Aramis Ademan singled to begin the inning. After a ground out, an Astros error scored Wilson to get the Birds on the board. P.J. Higgins drew a free pass to load the bases before Monasterio's walk cashed in another run. Two batters after that, Austin Upshaw drew a bases-loaded free pass to draw the Pelicans to within 7-3, but Kevonte Mitchell struck out as the tying run to end the ballgame.
Jhon Romero struck out six in two innings of relief, but Myrtle Beach suffered their 13th loss in the last 15 games.
RHP Erick Leal (0-0, 0.51 ERA) starts Thursday's 7:05 p.m. contest against Buies Creek RHP Carson LaRue (3-4, 4.98 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn. 
Thursday's contest is a Thirsty Thursday with $1 12 oz. Bud & Bud Light drafts, $2 16 oz. cans and half-price Duplin Wine from 6-8 p.m.
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].