Down East Wood Ducks starting pitcher Joe Palumbo prepares to deliver a pitch during Friday's 3-2 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Historic Grainger Stadium. Palumbo picked up the hard-luck loss despite only giving up four hits in five innings with no earned runs. Photo by William 'Bud' Hardy / Neuse News

In a script that’s becoming all too familiar for the Down East Wood Ducks, the Woodies had another great pitching performance spoiled by a lack of timely hitting. The result was a 3-2 loss to Myrtle Beach in the first of a four-game homestand at Historic Grainger Stadium on Friday.

Friday’s game was similar to the Woodies’ last two games at Buies Creek – both losses – in which they pitched well but left the field of play with a loss.

In front of 2,369 fans, the DEWDs (9-14 second half, 44-49 overall) had plenty of chances to leave with a win Friday. They left 15 on base and were walked eight times in the game. The Woodies were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Woodies trailed Myrtle Beach (9-13, 43-49) 3-1 before an RBI single by Chuck LeBlanc. However, both Josh Altmann (with one out) and Melvin Novoa (with two outs) came up fruitless in their at-bats with the bases loaded.

The lack of offense spoiled a strong pitching start by DEWD’s Joe Palumbo; in his first start of the season for the Woodies, he scattered four hits over five innings, striking out two and walking none. He gave up two runs, but both were unearned due to a fourth-inning error.

The Wood Ducks finished with seven hits, led by Franklin Rollin’s 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

Kevonte Mitchell and Roberto Caro each finished 2-for-4 in Myrtle Beach’s eight-hit attack. Caro had the Pelicans’ lone RBI in the sixth inning that proved to be the game-winner.

Cory Abbott improved to 2-4 with the victory for the Pelicans, spreading three hits over five innings with one earned run. Jhon Romero picked up his eighth save of the season with 1.2 innings of two-hit action.

It will be Christmas in July for the Wood Ducks and their fans Saturday at Grainger Stadium. Santa Claus will be in attendance at the contest while the Wood Ducks will wear special ugly Christmas sweater-type jerseys in the game. Fans can bid on the jerseys until the end of the fifth inning.

A special Wood Ducks Christmas ornament will be given away to the first 1,000 fans in attendance.

Additionally, any fans that bring in new or gently-used sports equipment will receive $3 off a game ticket. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the first pitch is at 6.