Pelicans Playoff Wrap: Pelicans Take Game 1 In 10 Innings

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans took game one of the best-of-five Mills Cup Championship Series, 3-2 in ten innings over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals).

This game was dominated by pitching, as starter Jen-Ho Tseng made only one real mistake, a solo home run in the second inning by first baseman Ryan O'Hearn. The final line on Tseng was six innings, allowing one run on three hits. Tseng walked one and struck out four.

The Pelicans took the lead in the sixth inning when Chesny Young led off the inning with a single. The next batter, Pin-Chieh Chen, hit a ground ball that hit Young going to second base for a single, but Young was erased on the basepaths. The next batter, a rehabbing Jorge Soler, doubled home Chen to tie the game at 1-1. Soler would score later in the inning on an RBI single by Mark Zagunis.

The score would remain 2-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth when Pelicans manager Mark Johnson summoned closer Jasvir Rakkar from the pen. Rakkar gave up a leadoff single. Rakkar walked the next batter, Eiler Hernandez, but only after Hernandez failed to get down a sacrifice bunt. Then Cam Gallagher laid down a bunt, which he then beat out for a single.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Rakkar left the game for David Berg. Berg got the first batter to hit a groundball to third baseman Jason Vosler, who threw home for the first out. Then Berg got a grounder to second baseman Daniel Lockhart that could have been a game-ending double play, but shortstop Gleyber Torres didn't get over to second base in time to cover a throw. Lockhart had to take the ball to the bag himself and the corresponding throw to first to get a double play was late. The run scored and the game was tied.

Berg then got a groundout to Lockhart to end the inning with no further damage and send the game into extra innings.

Lockhart lead off the top of the tenth inning with a double. After Young walked, Chen laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. The Blue Rocks intentionally walked Soler to load the bases and then Victor Caratini singled to right to score Lockhart with the go-ahead run. Any chance for any more runs ended when the next batter, Zagunis hit, into an inning-ending 5-2-3 double play.

Berg came out to pitch the bottom of the tenth inning and retired the side in order, including striking out the last two batters of the game.

The final line on Berg was 1.2 innings, allowing no runs and no baserunners. He struck out two and did allow one inherited runner to score.

Chen was 2 for 4 and scored once. Caratini was 3 for 5 with the RBI in the tenth. Soler, in his rehab appearance, was 1 for 4 with a double and three strikeouts. He was also intentionally walked and he played the entire 10 innings.

Game two of the Mills Cup Championship Series is tomorrow at 5:35 Central in Wilmington. Tyler Skulina will take the mound for Myrtle Beach and Jake Junis will pitch for Wilmington.

Finally, congratulations to Ryan Williams, your choice for Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year! Not bat for a tenth-round draft pick from last season who signed for a $1000 bonus.