The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, dug themselves too deep early Wednesday, falling to the Potomac Nationals, 6-3, at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
The Nationals jumped out early, scoring four runs before the Pelicans recorded an out. Pitcher Wilmer Font, make his first start since Tommy John surgery in 2010, walked the first three batters he faced. David Freitas then drove home one on and RBI single. A walk to Justin Bloxom forced in a second run and a two-run single by Kevin Keyes bounced Font from the game at a 4-0 deficit.
Chad Bell relieved Font and got out of the first without further damage. The Nationals touched the lefty for two more runs in the second, however. Sean Nicol singled before a walk to Freitas and a double by Bloxom to plate both. It was 6-0 at that point.
Myrtle Beach did battle back, scoring three runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Jake Skole. Santiago Chirino also drove in a run with a groundout. The score remained 6-3, however, through the rest of the night. The Pelicans would put seven more runners on base without scoring a run.
Chirino probably had the best night of any Pelican offensively, racking up three hits including a triple.
The Pelicans try to salvage the series in the finale Thursday. First pitch against Potomac is at 7:05 with Cody Buckel facing Kyle Winters.
