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05/03/2008 11:23 PM ET
Pelicans' Mejia rounding into form
Homers, drives in career-best six runs in 8-4 win over Avalanche
By Eric Justic
Ernesto Mejia is third in the Carolina League in extra-base hits and fourth in RBIs. (Joy R. Absalon/MLB.com)

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Ernesto Mejia already looked like a power hitter. Now he's starting to hit like one.

Mejia went 3-for-4 with a homer and a career-high six RBIs on Saturday, leading the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to an 8-4 victory over the Salem Avalanche at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in 2002, Mejia has never hit more than seven homers in a season despite being listed at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds. But the 22-year-old first baseman is starting to fill out and has three homers and 10 RBIs in his last four games.

"Something clicked inside of him and that's what he looked for," Pelicans manager Rocket Wheeler said. "When the light switch goes on, it's a pleasure to watch what happens."

Mejia singled in the first inning and crushed a three-run homer, his fourth of the season, in the fourth. After getting hit by a pitch in the fifth, he ripped a three-run double in the ninth.

"He's hitting them a long way, but having said that, he's not trying to hit them," Wheeler said, "They're coming by accident."

The Venezuela native was hitting just .189 on April 22 but has gone 12-for-25 with six runs scored in his last six games to raise his average to .259. He already has 19 RBIs, well on pace to top his career-best 25 for Rookie-level Danville in 2006.

"Our hitting coach, Rick Albert, has been working really hard with him," Wheeler said. "He's been telling him to go the other way. He's been staying back and he's not missing his pitch, and he's doing some damage."

Mejia has had hot stretches in the past, clubbing four homers in a three-game span from Aug. 23-25, 2007 with Class A Rome and collecting four homers in five games from July 19-25, 2005 in the Gulf Coast League. But the work he's put in and the efforts he's made to switch from the outfield to first base suggest this time might be different.

"I told him you need a day off, just kidding with him," Wheeler said. "It's finally coming together and you see a smile on his face."

Travis Jones homered for the second straight game for first-place Myrtle Beach (17-12), going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored to raise his batting average to .263.

Pelicans starter Ryne Reynoso (3-1) got the win after giving up four runs -- three earned --- on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings. Kevin Gunderson worked 1 1/3 perfect innings for his Carolina League-leading eighth save.

Jhon Florentino knocked in three runs for the Avalanche (13-15).

Salem reliever Joel Santo (0-1) yielded two runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in one inning.

Eric Justic is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.