The trio of Alec Asher, Tyler Smith, and Michael Zouzalik stymied the Salem Red Sox on Wednesday evening, combining for a three-hit shutout in Myrtle Beach’s 5-0 victory. The win snapped the Pelicans four-game losing streak, halted Salem’s three-game winning streak, and gave the Birds a larger cushion in the race for the second-half Southern Division crown. The Pelicans are now a game and a half ahead of the Red Sox with 12 games remaining in the regular season.
Asher registered six strikeouts in five scoreless innings, surrendering just two singles in his impressive performance. Smith tossed three frames while Zouzalik dealt a perfect ninth to take the Pelicans to the finish line. Myrtle Beach prevented the Red Sox from putting a runner at third base.
The Pelicans broke the scoreless tie with a fortuitous inside-the-park-homer in the bottom of the third. With two outs and two on, Drew Robinson belted a deep fly to center that Henry Ramos nearly caught. It bounced off his mitt and rolled along the center field warning track. As Ramos struggled to pick it up cleanly, Robinson rounded the bases to give Myrtle Beach a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Joe Maloney smoked a leadoff solo homer to make it 4-0. Royce Bolinger added a double, scoring on Odubel Herrera’s two-out RBI single to give Myrtle Beach their 5-0 edge.
Sox starter William Cuevas suffered the loss, slipping to 7-8 as a result of his four-inning, five-run outing. Cuevas struck out six, but also walked a pair and served up the two costly home runs.
Salem’s brightest spots on Wednesday were probably the number-nine hitter and the pair of relievers. Matty Johnson recorded two of Salem’s three hits, finishing 2-for-3 from the bottom of the order. Matty Ott tossed three scoreless innings out of the Red Sox bullpen, while Robby Scott worked around a walk in his scoreless frame on the hill.
The Sox and Pelicans continue their three-game series on Thursday evening, with Luis Diaz scheduled to make his Carolina League debut for Salem. Myrtle Beach counters with righthander Nick McBride, and the first pitch is slated for 7:05.
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Chris Graham
