Pelicans routed 12-3 in series opener

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (July 4, 2017) - Despite three hits from Trent Giambrone, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans surrendered five home runs to Buies Creek in the opener of their three-game in falling to the Astros 12-3 on Tuesday night from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
Buies Creek (46-37, 9-4) jumped on Myrtle Beach (47-35, 4-8) starter Ryan Kellogg (3-6) early. Myles Straw kicked off the ball game with a base hit to center field before advancing to second on his 23rd stolen base of the season. With one out in the frame, Jake Rogers singled back up the middle, scoring Straw to give the Astros the 1-0 lead.  

In the second, Eduardo de Oleo lifted his fifth home run of the season beyond the left field wall to extend the Astros' lead to 2-0.
With one out in the third, Ryne Birk and Jake Rogers hit back-to-back doubles to score the first run of the frame. With two outs in the inning, Stephen Wrenn blasted the second Buies Creek home run of the contest. The two-run shot made the score 5-0. 
Spencer Johnson joined the home run party in the fourth with his third of the season. With one out in the inning, Anibal Sierra laced a single to left field before scoring on a double from Straw, extending the Buies Creek advantage to 7-0. 
With two outs in the fifth, P.J. Higgins walked for the Pelicans before advancing to third on a double from Giambrone. Eloy Jimenez then knocked both runners in with a triple as the Birds scored a pair to make the score 7-2 in favor of Buies Creek. 
The 'Stros would tack on another run in the seventh with a solo blast from Jake Rodgers.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bryant Flete reached base when he was hit by a pitch. After advancing to second base on a wild pitch, Giambrone drove in Flete to make the score 8-3. 
Sierra reached base in eighth after he was hit by a pitch for Buies Creek. Straw pushed Sierra into scoring position with a double to center field. Ryne Birk followed Straw with a walk to load the bases. Rogers delivered for the Astros with an RBI single to center, scoring Sierra. Two more runs would score in the frame on a two-run single from Wrenn, extending the lead to 11-3.
Johnson blasted his second home run of the game for Buies Creek in the ninth inning to give the 'Stros their 12th and final run of the contest.
With the 12-3 loss, Myrtle Beach is now 4-8 to begin the second half of the season, tied for the worst start to a second half in recorded club history.  
The Pelicans will continue their three-game set with Buies Creek with Wednesday's game two matchup at 7:05 p.m. RHP Mike Rucker (1-2, 2.25 ERA) makes the start for Myrtle Beach against Buies Creek RHP Franklin Perez (4-2, 2.54 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
Gates open at 6:00 p.m. as the Pelicans will host Weiner Wednesday, meaning buy one get one hot dogs all night long from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. 
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].