Offense labors in loss to Potomac

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (June 29, 2017) - Myrtle Beach could not recover from the Nationals' four-run first inning as the Pelicans fell 5-1 Thursday to Potomac in the finale of their four-game set from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
Myrtle Beach (45-32, 2-5) was blitzed in the first inning by Potomac (37-41, 4-4) for the second straight night. Victor Robles reached second base on an error to kick off the ballgame for the Nationals. Robles advanced to third on a ground out before scoring on a single from Dan Gamache for the first run of the contest. Ian Sagdal followed Gamache with a base hit to put two runners on base. David Masters doubled in both runners to extend the P-Nats lead to 3-0. The final run of the inning would score on a base knock from Bryan Mejia. 

With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Sagdal ripped a double to center field against Pelicans starter Ryan Kellogg (3-6). Sagdal came in a batter later on an RBI single from Masters to make the score 5-0 Potomac. 
Jesse Hodges doubled with one out in the ninth inning before scoring on a double from Eloy Jimenez to give the Birds their only run of the contest in the ninth inning. 
Kyle Miller , Dakota Mekkes and Tommy Thorpe teamed up to toss four shutout innings for the Pelicans out of the bullpen. 
Potomac starter Taylor Guilbeau (2-1) fired seven shutout innings, striking out four batters en route to his second victory of the season. 
Myrtle Beach will head to Kinston, N.C. on Friday to kick off a four-game set with the Down East Wood Ducks. Friday's 7 p.m. opener will feature Myrtle Beach RHP Mike Rucker (1-1, 1.45 ERA) and Down East LHP Wes Benjamin (5-6, 5.00 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 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].