The Pelicans lost to the Cats 1-0 Wednesday night, but will not lose any ground to the Captains. Though the first place Pelicans dropped the game, the Captains (three games back in second place) lost as well. The Pelicans maintain their three game lead entering the final four games of the regular season: at home against the Captains. Therefore, the Pelicans need to win just one game to clinch the division and consequently, a spot in the playoffs. Despite the loss Wednesday night, the Pelicans had a strong performance in the pitchers’ duel.

Pelicans’ starter Kevin Cooper pitched six scoreless innings, yielding just four hits and striking out two batters. Six total batters reached, as Cooper hit two batters with pitches. Bubba Nelson started relieving Cooper in the bottom of the sixth. Bubba would allow just one hit, but it was costly. After John Allen struck out (Nelson’s third K) as the first out of the bottom of the ninth, Nelson walked Michael Bell. After a wild pitch moved Bell to second base, he scored when Patterson singled to give the Cats the victory.

Pensacola threatened multiple times, but could never squeeze a run across. Antoin Gray led off the second inning with a single and ultimately advanced to third, but never came home. Marcos Rodriguez reached on an error by the third baseman in the fourth inning with two outs. He advanced to third base on a Dallas Christison single, but a fly out would end the inning scoreless. Marshall McDougall led off the top of the sixth with a single, but after two out, was stuck there. Rodriguez reached on an error by the pitcher, and McDougall advanced to third, but both runners would be stranded when the third out was recorded.

Probably the closest the Pelicans came to scoring was the third inning. Jason Diaz singled to start, and Francisco Leandro dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move him to second. When Kevin Reynolds walked, the Pelicans had runners at the corners and one out. On a pickoff attempt at first base, Diaz broke for home. John Allen caught the throw at first and tossed it to the plate. Kelley Gulledge tagged out Diaz, and the Pelicans wouldn’t advance Reynolds past first.

Marshall McDougall ended the night 2-4, as the Pelicans recorded six hits compared to the Cats’ five. The Pelicans hope to perform better Thursday, when they host the Captains for the first of the last four games of the regular season.

The Pelicans will start Dane DeValk against the Captains’ Richard Salazar on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. The Pelicans need win only one game to clinch the division and a playoff spot. Whoever does win the second half of the season will play the first half winner, Fort Worth, in Texas starting Tuesday. The best-of-five series will determine who plays the North Division Champion starting September 8.