Myrtle Beach pitchers combine for 11-hit shutout of Lynchburg

The Lynchburg Hillcats collected 11 hits on Saturday night, but were shut out in a 2-0 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

The Hillcats (2-1) took a perfect game into the sixth inning, after starter Jean Carlos Mejia retired all 15 Pelicans (1-2) hitters he faced in his five innings of work, striking out eight.

Yapson Gomez (Loss, 0-1) took over on the mound for the Hillcats in the sixth, and allowed a one-out single to Wladimir Galindo. The next hitter, Tyler Payne, hit a bloop single to right, but the ball got past Trenton Brooks and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Galindo to score on the error while Payne took second base. With D.J. Wilson batting, Payne took third base on a passed ball and scored a pitch later when Gomez uncorked a wild pitch, capping the scoring at 2-0.

Lynchburg threatened in the ninth inning. Gavin Collins led off with a single and Tyler Friis walked with one out. With two away, Steven Kwan singled to left field, but Collins was thrown out at the plate by Kevonte Mitchell to end the game.

The Hillcats finished the contest by going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.

Gomez allowed two earned runs in his lone inning of work, while Anderson Polanco followed him out of the bullpen and tossed two scoreless innings.

Paul Richan started for the Pelicans, and logged 3.2 scoreless frames before being removed due to a high pitch count. Ryan Kellogg (Win, 1-0) fired 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out four, and Ben Hehct (Save, 1) slammed the door shut with a scoreless eighth and ninth innings.

The Hillcats and Pelicans will wrap up their series on Sunday night in the finale of the four-game set. Right-hander Eli Morgan will make his first start of the year for Lynchburg against Birds righty Javier Assad. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.

Max Gun will be on the air beginning at 5:55 p.m. on TuneIn Radio and Radio434.

Lynchburg returns home to City Stadium on Monday, April 8, to take on the Salem Red Sox. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Magnet Schedule giveaway, presented by Nadine Blakely.

For tickets and more information, visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium box office, or call 434-528-1144.