Boscan works magic in Myrtle Beach Pelicans' win

Wizards Night couldn't have come at a better time for Myrtle Beach Pelicans starting pitcher Wilfredo Boscan, who seemed to have been cursed over the past month.

But with the Pelicans sporting Hogwartz Academy-inspired uniforms Thursday in celebration of the latest installment in the Harry Porter book/movie series, Boscan appeared to draw on some magical powers and put a spell on the Salem Red Sox hitters. He threw 62/3 innings of five-hit baseball in the Pelicans' 6-5 victory.

Boscan (3-9) allowed only one hit through 52/3 innings before giving up back-to-back hits and breaking up the shutout in snapping his four-game losing streak.

The right-hander had allowed at least four earned runs in his previous four outings, posting an ERA of 6.97 during that stretch.

On Thursday he got his mojo back, although he had to sweat out some tense moments while the bullpen attempted to slam the door.

The Pelicans bolstered his outing with lots of offensive support, but runs were hard to come by in the early innings. For the second straight night leadoff man Leury Garcia started the game with a walk and a run, this time scoring on Santiago Chirino's double, but the Pelicans stranded six baserunners over the first three frames.

Clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth, the Pelicans finally broke the game open with three runs in the inning. David Paisano ripped an RBI single and Jared Hoying followed with a two-RBI double to give Myrtle Beach a 4-1 advantage, and Jared Prince tacked on a solo home run to right field in the sixth for extra insurance.

Boscan gave up a pair of hits and a run on David Mailman's RBI single before being lifted in favor of reliever Trevor Hurley, who used a strikeout to get out of a jam.

Myrtle Beach responded with more offensive support in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Andres James slapping an RBI single to center field for a 6-2 lead, But Hurley found himself in trouble again in the eighth when a wild pitch allowed one run to score and Miles Head ripped a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 6-5.

Joe Ortiz came in to shut the door for Hurley in the eighth and he got a strikeout to start the ninth. Johan Yan came on and gave up a single to put the potential tying run on base but he struck out the final two batters to earn his team-high 10th save of the season and give the team back-to-back wins for the first time in July.

With leading hitter Ryan Strausborger out of the lineup, the Pelicans got plenty of pop from the rest of the lineup. Prince, who took Strausborger's regular spot as the No. 3 hitter in the order, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Paisano went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Pelicans donned black jerseys that resembled a vest, shirt and tie, similar to the school uniforms sported by the childhood characters in J.K. Rowling's hit series. The players' jerseys were auctioned off after the game, with proceeds going to the Bruce Dal Canton Scholarship Fund and Autism Advocate Foundation.

LOB -Salem 6, Myrtle Beach 11. 2B-Chirino (11, Britton), Bolden (16, Ruiz), Hoying (16, Ruiz), Paisano (7, Ruiz). Wilkerson (13, Boscan). HR-Head (2, 8th inning off Hurley, 1 on, 2 out). Prince (6, 6th inning off Ruiz, 0 on, 2 out). E-Boscan (1, pickoff), Yan (1, throw). Gibson, D (8, fielding). CS -Vitek (2, 2nd base by Boscan/DiFazio). DP-(Britton-Head-Gibson, D).

WP -Britton, Hurley. HBP--Hoying (by Britton). Umpires--HP: Thomas Newsom. 1B: Carlos Torres. T--3:03. A--4,883.