The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, took their first walk-off victory of the season Thursday night, 1-0, over the Potomac Nationals in front of a sell-out crowd at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
A pitcher’s duel from the outset, starters Cody Buckel (MYR) and Kyle Winters (POT) battled for a scoreless six innings. Buckel faced the minimum, allowing two hits and striking out nine in his outing. The only two runners to hit Buckel were erased on a pickoff and caught stealing. Winters K’d seven, allowing three hits in his no-decision.
The Pelicans finally broke through in the ninth inning. After a leadoff single, Jared Hoying was sacrificed to third by Tomas Telis. The Nationals then walked Christian Villanueva, who’d already doubled earlier in the game. With two on and one out, P-Nats closer Cameron Selik struck out Vinny DiFazio, making way for Jake Skole.
Facing the possibility of extra innings for the first time this season, Skole delivered a W for the Birds, flipping a ball down the leftfield line and off the glove of a charging Kevin Keyes in left. By the time the ball dropped off Keyes’ glove, Hoying had come around to score for the 1-0 win.
The Pelicans improve to 3-3 on the season and next travel to Salem, VA to take on the Salem Red Sox in their first roadtrip of the 2012 season. Roman Mendez pitched Friday against Major League rehabber Rich Hill. First pitch is at 7:05.
- Photo courtesy of MB Pelicans
