In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the host Pelicans fought back from a five-run deficit early to overcome the Lynchburg Hillcats late, winning the series opener Monday, 8-5.
With the Hillcats up 5-3 in the eighth, Hillcats reliever Justin Garcia got the quick hook after giving up back-to-back singles. He managed just one out before being pulled, but Ben Krauth allowed those two runners and three more to come home before the inning came to an end.
Krauth (1-1), who took the loss, issued two walks, one of which went for a run, then allowed a two-RBI single and two-run double that capped the scoring for the Pelicans.
After victimizing the Potomac Nationals twice in their past two games with big innings, the Hillcats (22-19) were on the receiving end Monday thanks to the Pelicans’ five-run eighth.
All eight of Myrtle Beach’s runs were unanswered.
The Pelicans (18-26) also scored twice in the bottom of the first, cutting Lynchburg’s early 5-0 lead to three, and added one run in the fourth.
Myrtle Beach’s Jhonny Pereda and Tyler Alamo delivered back-to-back solo homers in the first frame. In the fourth, Kevonte Mitchell led off with a triple to right field, and Daniel Spingola followed with an RBI single.
Four of the Pelicans’ 10 hits went for extra bases, and four different players had two hits apiece.
The Hillcats, meanwhile, had plenty of offense early but couldn’t score again after the first.
Mitch Longo sent the game’s first pitch over the right-field wall to get the scoring started for Lynchburg, which added four more runs on five singles in the frame.
Over the next eight innings, though, Pelicans starter Tyson Miller and reliever Bailey Clark combined to strike out 12 Hillcats batters.
Clark (1-1) earned the win after allowing just one hit and walking three in 3 1/3 innings.
Lynchburg tried to add to its lead in the seventh, but stranded two men in scoring position. And two innings later, down three runs, the Hillcats’ rally again came up short when Conner Capel struck out to end the game, leaving Longo and Luke Wakamatsu stranded on the corners.
Trenton Brooks went 3 for 5 with a run scored to lead the Hillcats, and Emmanuel Tapia was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run.