Myrtle Beach Pelicans edge Carolina Mudcats for sixth consecutive win

Final score

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 6, Carolina Mudcats 4 (Box score)

Turning point

Trailing by four runs to open the eighth inning, Carolina loaded the bases with no outs and – after an Omar Obregon strikeout – Travis Demeritte hit a two-RBI double to pull the Mudcats within one. Reliever Daniel Lewis then got Myrtle Beach out of a jam by inducing an inning-ending double play and the Pelicans would score more run before shutting the door.

The impressive double play was started by shortstop Andrew Ely, who made a diving stop on the ball appearing to be headed for the outfield and – with his chest still on the ground – quickly flipped it to second baseman Bryant Flete. He tagged second after catching the ball barehanded and tossed it to first base to complete the double play, which came with the bases loaded and ended a three-run inning for the Mudcats.

Opening statement

Highlighted by a Daniel Spingola RBI double, the first inning was huge for Myrtle Beach on Thursday as it scored four runs to take command.

The man

Pelicans starter Preston Morrison picked up a quality start and the victory in his second Carolina League appearance after being pulled with no outs in the eighth, having surrendered three runs on five hits and he also struck out seven.

Offensive star

Pelicans outfielder Jeffrey Baez continued his hot streak by hitting a triple, double and driving in two runs. Baez is batting .389 (7-for-18) with seven RBIs and three runs in his last five starts.

Decision takers

W–Morrison. L–Ryan Clark. S–Pedro Araujo.

One for the money

Araujo tossed just one pitch to record the final out of the contest, subsequently earning his first save of the season.

By the numbers

Keeping records

Carolina Mudcats (44-67 overall, 15-26 second half), Myrtle Beach Pelicans (60-51, 24-17)

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 12:42 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach Pelicans edge Carolina Mudcats for sixth consecutive win."