Pelicans knock off Salem Red Sox in 13

The Pelicans lost runners at the plate in the 10th and 11th innings, but there was nothing the Salem Red Sox could do on Vinny DiFazio’s bases loaded single to center in the top of the 13th, breaking the 3-3 stalemate and giving Myrtle Beach a series split with a 5-3, 13-inning victory.

In the bottom of the 13th, Xander Bogaerts led off with a single against Ben Rowen, but the Pelicans closer induced a double play grounder from Michael Almanzar, and the game ended with Christian Vazquez’ chopper to short, earning Rowen his 12th save for Myrtle Beach.

Jimmy Reyes tossed four scoreless innings out of the Pelican pen to earn the win, improving to 4-2. The lefty reliever allowed just one hit and struck out five in his four strong frames on the hill. Andrew Jones suffered the loss for the Sox, yielding four straight singles to start the 13th after dealing scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th. Jones fell to 4-2, giving up two runs on six hits.

Down 2-0 early, the Red Sox got on the board with a Bogaerts bases loaded walk in the third and took the lead on Lucas LeBlanc’s clutch two-out, two-run single in the sixth. Salem led 3-2 after LeBlanc’s RBI knock that chased Pelican starter Randol Rojas from the game.

Salem starter Brandon Workman bore down after allowing two runs (one earned) in the first inning, setting down 18 of 19 Pelicans into the seventh inning. But with one out in the seventh, Jhonny Gomez and Santiago Chirino cracked consecutive singles to send Workman to the showers. Charle Rosario entered and induced a double play ball to short, but the relay throw to  first from Heiker Meneses sailed off the glove of Almanzar at first and into the Pelicans dugout, allowing Gomez to score and tie the game. An unearned run, Workman finished with three runs allowed (one earned) on six hits in six and a third innings, with six strikeouts and no walks, receiving a no-decision.

The Sox managed just two hits over the final seven innings, while the Pelicans recorded nine in that time. Entering the 13th, Myrtle Beach had gone 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, but delivered two clutch hits in the top of the 13th to break the tie. Salem finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, the only hit being LeBlanc’s two-run single in the sixth.