The Myrtle Beach Pelicans rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to stun the Potomac Nationals 11-8 in the series finale at Pfitzner Stadium. The seven-run lead blown by the Nationals was the largest they’ve lost this season.
For the third straight game, Potomac put up runs in the first inning. Michael Taylor and Chad Tracy singled to start the frame and Steven Souza reached with a two-out walk to load the bases. Jason Martinson came to the plate next and hit a towering grand slam over the left field wall to quickly put the P-Nats in front 4-0.
The Nationals extended their lead to 7-0 with three more runs in the second. Erick Fernandez singled and Taylor walked to set the table for Ricky Hague, who hit a two-run double. Kevin Keyes followed with a double of his own down the left field line that plated Hague to give the Nationals a seven-run lead.
But the Pelicans would storm back quickly with six runs in the top of the third. Myrtle Beach loaded the bases with one out and Carlos Villanueva brought in the first run with an RBI single. Tomas Telis stepped to the plate next and emptied the bases with a three-run double to cut the P-Nats lead to 7-4. Edwin Garcia made it three straight RBI hits as he scored Telis on an RBI single. The sixth and final run of the inning for the Pelicans came across on a fielder’s choice by Yefry Castillo to bring the Birds within a run at 7-6.
Myrtle Beach took their first lead of the series with three more runs in the fourth. The rally started with one out as Odubel Herrera walked and Hanser Alberto singled. Brett Nicholas then homered just inside the foul pole down the right field line for a 9-7 lead.
Adam Olbrychowki (4-8) was chased after just four innings and took the loss. He allowed a season-high twelve hits and nine runs, eight of them earned.
Teodoro Martinez pushed the Pelicans run total to double digits with an RBI single that scored Castillo to make it 10-7.
Martinson’s productive afternoon continued in the seventh inning as he connected with his second home run of the game, a solo shot to right field, for Potomac’s first run since the second inning. After his five RBI day, Martinson has now driven in 28 runs in 29 games.
Telis’ fourth RBI of the game provided an insurance run and an 11-8 lead as his sacrifice fly scored Alberto in the top of the ninth.
After starter Luke Jackson lasted just one and one third innings, the Myrtle Beach bullpen took over and was very strong. The combination of Francisco Mendoza, Jimmy Reyes, and Ben Rowen threw seven and two-thirds innings of relief yielding just one run. Mendoza (3-4) earned the victory tossing two and two thirds scoreless and Rowen picked up his tenth save of the year.
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