The Myrtle Beach Pelicans got some early offense and great pitching from Jen-Ho Tseng to beat Lucas Giolito and the Potomac Nationals 3-0 on Memorial day, taking the series three games to one. Tseng went six innings, he allowed just two hits and struck out six to get the win (2-2.) Giolito went five innings, he allowed six hits and three earned runs, he walked two and struck out four in the loss (1-3.) Tayler Scott got his second save.
Tseng retired the first eleven batters he faced, four by strikeout. He threw eighty pitches, fifty eight were strikes, he had eight ground ball outs, compared to just one flyball out. A pretty dominant performance all the way around. He was coming off a few bumpy outings having allowed ten earned runs on fourteen hits in his last three starts (eleven and a third innings). Tseng features a high 80’s to low 90’s fastball that has touched 95. He also mixes in a curve and change that are both potential average to above average pitches. Potential number four starter
In the home half of the first, the Pelicans Pin-Chieh Chen drew a one out walk. Chesney Young (hits in eight of his last ten) followed with a double to right and Jeimer Candelario (six hits in the last three games) hit a ground ball down the right field line for a two run double. The Pelicans added a third run in the second inning. Kevin Brown led off with his first triple of the year, and following a couple of strikeouts, Mark Zagunis (hits in nine of ten games) doubled to right field to score Brown.
Giolito was able to settle down after that, pitching a clean third and forth but got into some trouble in the fifth allowing back to back singles, but he pitched out of it. In his five innings he threw 78 pitches 50 of which were strikes, he induced four ground ball outs and four fly ball outs. Giolito had given up four earned runs in his last two starts while striking out 20 (13 innings). He features a mid to upper 90 fastball with movement. He also throws a low to mid 80’s curve that scouts rave about and a developing change that should be at least an average major league pitch. Easy to see why many of the prospectors have Giolito as the top pitcher in the minors.
Both teams are off tomorrow. Starting Wednesday, Potomac hosts the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Myrtle Beach is visiting the Carolina Mudcats and I’ll be back tomorrow with another minor league pitching duel of the day. Thanks for reading.
John Calvagno
John is a contributor for Legends on Deck. A Red Sox fan and Minor league enthusiast, he's usually writing about minor league baseball on his own blog - Notes from the Sally. John also loves Bruins hockey and Syracuse basketball. John is married with two grown daughters and lives in Asheville, NC. you can find John on Twitter @SALNotes
