Jimenez sparks late rally, Pelicans walk off with win over Down East in extras

Final score

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7, Down East Wood Ducks 6 (F/10)

Turning point

With two out in the bottom of the ninth, a base hit by catcher P.J. Higgins brought home left fielder Robert Garcia. More importantly, it allowed designated hitter Eloy Jimenez to come to the plate, the Chicago Cubs’ top prospect delivering a double that allowed Higgins to cross home plate and tie the game at 6-6. In the 10th, first baseman Matt Rose’s solo shot over the left field wall sent the Pelicans home with a win.

Offensive star

While Down East’s LeDarious Clark had himself a night by going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, hits by Myrtle Beach’s Eloy Jimenez ignited a rally by the Pelicans that eventually allowed them to pull out a hard-fought win. He was 2-for-5 with three RBIs in the game.

Decision takers

Winner: Pedro Araujo (2-0) pitched the 10th for Myrtle Beach, not giving up a hit. The only Down East base runner during his inning of work reached after being hit by a pitch.

Loser: Down East’s Tyler Ferguson (0-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits, including a walkoff home run to Myrtle Beach’s Matt Rose.

By the numbers

Keeping record

Myrtle Beach improves to 30-25 on the season, remaining a game back of Buies Creek in the Carolina League’s Southern Division after its win over Carolina earlier Friday night. Down East falls to 21-33.

On deck

Myrtle Beach and Down East put a bow on the teams’ four-game series, first pitch at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. Thomas Hatch will take the hill for the Pelicans, seeking to earn his first win of the season.

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 10:59 PM with the headline "Jimenez sparks late rally, Pelicans walk off with win over Down East in extras."