Myrtle Beach, SC – Southpaw Paul Mildren arguably outdueled his major league rehabbing counterpart as the Blue Rocks lefty tossed six scoreless innings against five no-run frames by Mike Hampton, but the battle of the bullpens was won by the host Myrtle Beach Pelicans as Wilmington (41-45, 6-10) dropped the opener of a three-game series, 1-0. The Blue Rocks had their chances, but stranded six men on base, including five in scoring position, and three times left a man at third. Kurt Mertins singled twice, stretching his hitting streak to a team season-best 14 games, while speedy outfielder Derrick Robinson stole three bases, bringing his league-high total to 42.

The seventh inning proved decisive. Mildren departed having retired eight of the last nine men to oppose him, letting just two men move beyond first base. Greg Holland began the inning in his stead and gave up a hard single through the left-side hole to Tyler Flowers. Concepcion Rodriguez dropped a sac bunt and Phillip Britton delivered, picking up just his 17th RBI of the season with a single over third base, plating Flowers for the game’s only score. Holland (3-4) would retire each of the five men he faced thereafter, but the first run scored against him in five appearances handed him his first loss since May 20.

Mildren allowed four hits, one walk and struck out four over his six innings while Hampton surrendered five hits and no walks against six strikeouts in his five frames. Reliever Carlos Rivas (2-1) tossed three one-hit innings to earn the win and closer Bryan Dumesnil bolted down his 10th save in 13 tries with a perfect ninth inning, striking out the last two.

The three-game series continues on Sunday evening at 6:05 p.m. Nineteen-year-old Ed Cegarra (2-4, 4.81) opposes converted reliever Chris Vines (2-1, 3.59).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
With his second 2-for-4 night in as many days, Kurt Mertins is hitting .418 (23-for-55) over his team season-best 14-game hitting streak. As a result, Mertins has lifted his batting average to .305.

Three Myrtle Beach hurlers combined to strike out 12 Blue Rocks on the game. Wilmington has suffered double-digit strikeouts in four straight games.

Saturday’s shutout loss is the fifth suffered by the Blue Rocks this season and second delivered by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The Fightin’ Feathers blanked the Blue Crew on Opening Day in 13 innings, 2-0.