Saturday Preview: Mudcats vs. Pelicans
By Myrtle Beach Pelicans Media
SATURDAY, JUNE 24–7:05 P.M.
CAROLINA MUDCATS (30–42, 1–1) vs. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (37–35, 1–1)
TICKETRETURN.COM FIELD — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
A seesaw battle finally pointed Myrtle Beach’s way at the end of Friday night with a 4–3 Pelicans triumph over Carolina. The Mudcats grabbed a 1–0 lead in the third only for the Birds to answer immediately on back-to-back RBI doubles by Gleyber Torres and Jason Vosler in the bottom of the frame. A two-run homer by Braxton Davidson put the Mudcats back in fron tin the sixth, but a wild pitch brought in Charcer Burks to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Burks broke the knot with an RBI double in the eighth, giving Myrtle Beach the final advantage. The Birds’ bullpen worked three shutout frames after Erick Leal’s quality start.
SATURDAY’S PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Jeremy Null (2–3, 3.66 ERA)
The good news with Null is that he has completed at least five innings in every single start in 2016. The bad news is that he’s allowed at least three runs in five straight outings. Over that time, the right-hander has seen his ERA rise from 0.75 to 3.66. The former Western Carolina ace has held leadoff hitters to a .075 average for the season.
RHP Caleb Beech (0–1, 3.18 ERA)
After pitching primarily out of the bullpen for Low-A Rome in April, Beech landed on the disabled list before being sent to Carolina last week. In his first start with the Mudcats, Beech turned in four scoreless innings before surrendering a couple runs late. A 13th round pick in 2014, Beech went 5–2 with a 2.87 ERA in 10 starts with Rome last year.
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FRIDAY’S LINEUP:
- Rashad Crawford, CF
- Gleyber Torres, SS
- Jason Vosler, 3B
- Yasiel Balaguert, 1B
- Ian Rice, DH
- David Bote, 2B
- Jeffrey Baez, RF
- Tyler Pearson, C
- Charcer Burks, LF
BIRDS’ NEST NOTES:
-In a 20-game stretch from May 20-June 9, the Birds’ bullpen posted an ugly 6.88 ERA (40 ER on 63 H in 52.1 IP). However, in the 13 games since then, Pelican relievers have shined, registering a 0.91 ERA (7 ER in 38.1 IP).
-LHP Jordan Minch has now gone 10 consecutive without allowing a run, with RHP Ryan McNeil’s streak hitting nine last night…The Birds are two games into a stretch that see them play eight of their first 11 half two contests at home.
-Myrtle Beach has played in a league-high 52 games decided by three runs or less this season. Considering nearly every team across baseball finishes at or around .500 in close games throughout a season, it is a little surprising to see that the Birds have posted a 29–23 record in these contests. Of the 20 other games, Myrtle Beach’s largest margin of victory is 15, while they have lost by as many eight runs.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday’s game will be broadcast in the following ways:
Online (Available at 6:40 p.m.): Pelicans Baseball Network
Video: MiLB.tv
Phone/Tablet: MiLB First Pitch App, TuneIn App.
