The Myrtle Beach Pelicans couldn’t keep pace with the Potomac Nationals Friday, dropping the first of a three game series at Pfitzner Stadium, 8-3.
All of Potomac’s damage came off starter Randy Henry, who allowed a career worst eight runs on 10 hits in five and a third innings. His ERA jumped nearly a full run to 2.36.
The most devastating blows were three homeruns hit to left by Ricky Hague, Jason Martinson and Michael Taylor. The homeruns were three, two and one-run shots in succession in the fourth and sixth innings.
Henry was relieved in the sixth inning by righty Nick McBride, who made his Pelicans debut. McBride fired 2 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing only one hit. He finished the game.
Offensively things started well for the Pelicans, who put two on in the first against Alex Meyer. The first round pick and Futures Game participant was making his Carolina League debut. He wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout of Tomas Telis looking. It was one of seven K’s, four of which were looking.
The Pelicans wouldn’t score until the eighth though. Against reliever Adam Carr the Pelicans loaded the bases with nobody out. Hanser Alberto came through with a sac fly for a run. It was 8-1. The Birds plated two more in the ninth on a Teodoro Martinez homerun, his third.
The loss drops Myrtle to 19-10 in the second half, still the best record in the Carolina League, but just 7-7 since an 11-3 start. On Saturday the Birds throw Randol Rojas against Nathan Karns at 6:05.