KINSTON, NC - A thrilling pitchers' duel spilled into extra innings where the Wood Ducks (22-38, 56-74) claimed their sixth walk-off win 2-1 and won their fourth game in a row.
KINSTON, NC - A thrilling pitchers' duel spilled into extra innings where the Wood Ducks (22-38, 56-74) claimed their sixth walk-off win 2-1 and won their fourth game in a row.
Myrtle Beach (24-36, 58-72) pitcher Manny Rondon fielded a Leody Taveras sac bunt and attempted to throw out Alex Kowalczyk advancing to third. The lefty's throw missed his target and rolled down the line, allowing Kowalcyzk to score the winning run in the bottom of the tenth.
The combined effort of Steven Bruce, Brett Eibner, and Royce Bolinger kept the Pelicans off of the board for the first eight innings of the contest. Bruce, the starter, collected seven strikeouts in four innings before he was pulled entering the fifth due to injury.
Eibner's High-A debut as a pitcher featured two strikeouts and retiring the last six batters he faced. The right-hander is on the comeback trail from Tommy John surgery in his first full-season as a pitcher.
The Wood Duck offense was stymied by Cory Abbott for the first five innings of the game. He left seven runners on base - including the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Garrett Kelly worked the next two innings of relief and returned for the eighth in a scoreless game.
With one out and none on, Anderson Tejeda launched a 3-2 pitch to right-center for his 18th homer of the season. Down East had the lead for the ninth and turned to Bolinger for his third inning of work.
The symmetry was spooky as also with one out, Christian Donahue lined a homer of the wall in right to tie the game at one. The Woodies managed to get the winning run to third in the bottom of the ninth but could not bring him in.
Jairo Beras managed a scoreless top of the tenth and left two runners stranded. It is the fourth time in six tries this season that Beras has left the "placed" runner on base in an extra inning.
It set the stage for the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the tenth and the second pitch of the inning featured Taveras' bunt to win it for the Woodies. It marks the first four game winning streak for the DEWDs since early May when they won five in a row.
Game two of the series features a special Grainger Stadium 70th anniversary pennant giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, presented by Chris Humphrey Allstate. The DEWDs will throw right-hander Jason Bahr on the mound against Pelican lefty Bryan Hudson with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
