Taveras and Martinez Lead Wood Ducks to Win

MYRTLE BEACH, SC -Leody Taveras lifted the Wood Ducks (13-28, 48-63) in a 5-4 victory over the Pelicans to clinch their first series win in over a month. The switch-hitter went 3-for-5 with three RBI singles - including the go-ahead single in the top of the ninth.

The back-and-forth affair featured four lead changes as the Pelicans took advantage of three Wood Duck errors in the middle stages of the game and used the bottom of their order early to take the lead.
Still, Emerson Martinez turned in his ninth quality start and his fifth straight start of at least six innings with seven runs and only three earned runs allowed. He took a no decision in his 19th start of the season. 
With the DEWDs trailing 1-0 in the third, Yanio Perez connected on a two-run homer to left field. It was the first home run allowed all season by Myrtle Beach starter Erick Leal and gave the DEWDs a 2-1 lead.
The next two and a half innings were void of a "shutdown inning." The Pelicans tied it in the bottom of the third with an unearned run, then Taveras lined his first single into right-center for an RBI single in the fourth.
The Pelicans would take the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs on three hits and another error by the DEWD defense. With the score 4-3 Pelicans, both offenses were finally quieted in the sixth with 1-2-3 innings. 
A rally formed in the eighth for the DEWDs with a leadoff bunt single by Eric Jenkins. He would advance to second on a passed ball during Taveras' at-bat, before he would line a single up the middle to tie the game at four.
The ninth featured the same characters at the center of it, but this time with Chuck Leblanc on second base after Jenkins drew a two-out full count walk. With a 1-2 count, Leody lined a single to center to score Leblanc and give the DEWDs the lead.
The only bullpen arm used was Jacob Lemoine as he was credited with the win over two innings of scoreless work and three strikeouts.
Down East returns to Grainger Stadium on Friday to open a six-game home stand first with the Winston-Salem Dash. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday night.