Bello Stays Hot in 8-2 Carolina Victory
ZEBULON – Micah Bello went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and three RBI, Jheremy Vargas also had three hits and two runs, starter Brannon Jordan totaled seven strikeouts over three innings, and reliever Carlos Rodriguez earned his first victory as a pro as the Mudcats won their second straight
ZEBULON – Micah Bello went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and three RBI, Jheremy Vargas also had three hits and two runs, starter Brannon Jordan totaled seven strikeouts over three innings, and reliever Carlos Rodriguez earned his first victory as a pro as the Mudcats won their second straight 8-2 versus the Wood Ducks on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.
Bello’s second double of the night was a go-ahead extra-base knock that drove in three runs and lifted the Mudcats (2-0) to a 4-2 lead midway through Saturday’s series clinching victory. Eduardo Garcia followed with a two-run double of his own in the same frame as Carolina went up 6-2 on reliever Theo McDowell and the Wood Ducks (0-2). McDowell (0-1, 67.50) recorded just two outs in the fifth and walked three while allowing five earned runs in the loss.
Carolina also added two more runs in the sixth while going up 8-2. Much like the five run fifth, it was Vargas who started the sixth with a single before later scoring a run. Hendry Mendez, who walked four times in the game, also scored on a wild pitch in Carolina’s two-run sixth.
The Mudcats originally trailed 2-0 early, but came back with an unearned run in the fourth before scoring seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings. The Wood Ducks scored twice on two hits in the second, but were held scoreless, and to just three other hits the rest of the way. Both runs were driven in by catcher Efrenyer Narvaez and his two-run triple in the second.
Jordan allowed those two early runs, but also struck out seven over three innings in his first start as a Mudcat. Karlos Morales followed in relief and struck out the side in the fourth. Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00) then pitched the next three frames and earned the win in his professional debut after striking three over three scoreless. Junior Montero struck out two, but also walked two while recording just two outs, and leaving with the bases loaded in the seventh. Trevor Tietz entered in place of Montero and managed to leave the bases loaded to end the late Down East rally. Brandon Ramey finished the game with a scoreless ninth.
Jordan, Morales, Rodriguez, Montero, Tietz and Ramey combined for 17 strikeouts against five walks in the Saturday night home win.
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Bello, RF (Carolina): 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI
Vargas, 3B (Carolina): 3-for-5, 2 R
Garcia, E, SS (Carolina): 2-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Chirinos, 1B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R
Narvaez, C (Down East): 2-for-4, 1 3B, 2 RBI
Ortiz, RF (Down East): 1-for-3, 0 R, 1 2B
Galan, LF (Down East): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Jordan (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Morales (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Rodriguez (W, 1-0) (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Tietz (Carolina): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Ramey (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Kindreich (Down East): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
Lockhart (Down East): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Brewer (Down East): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
SCORING:
Wood Ducks 2nd (Wood Ducks 2, Mudcats 0) -- Jose Rodriguez struck out looking. Abimelec Ortiz struck out looking. Yosy Galan doubles to right field. Yenci Pena walks. Efrenyer Narvaez triples to center field, Yosy Galan scores; Yenci Pena scores. Jose Acosta walks. Jose Acosta steals 2nd base. Maximo Acosta pops out to Jeferson Quero in foul territory.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 4th (Wood Ducks 2, Mudcats 1) -- Jesus Chirinos grounds out, Maximo Acosta to Jose Rodriguez. Micah Bello doubles to right field. Arbert Cipion flies out to Yosy Galan. Zack Raabe reaches on fielding error by Alejandro Osuna, Micah Bello scores; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia hit by pitch. Hedbert Perez grounds out to Jose Rodriguez.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 6, Wood Ducks 2) -- Pitcher Change: Theo McDowell replaces Nick Lockhart. Jheremy Vargas singles up the middle. Hendry Mendez walks, Jheremy Vargas to 2nd. Jeferson Quero pops out to Jose Rodriguez in foul territory. Jesus Chirinos walks, Jheremy Vargas to 3rd; Hendry Mendez to 2nd. Micah Bello doubles to left field, Jheremy Vargas scores; Hendry Mendez scores; Jesus Chirinos scores. Arbert Cipion flies out to Abimelec Ortiz. Zack Raabe walks. Micah Bello steals 3rd base. Pitcher Change: Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa replaces Theo McDowell. Eduardo Garcia doubles to right-center field, Micah Bello scores; Zack Raabe scores. Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging.
(5 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 8, Wood Ducks 2) -- Jheremy Vargas singles to right field. Jheremy Vargas steals 2nd base. Throwing error by Efrenyer Narvaez on the pickoff attempt. Hendry Mendez walks. Jeferson Quero out on a sacrifice fly to Alejandro Osuna, Jheremy Vargas scores. Jesus Chirinos singles to center field, Hendry Mendez to 3rd. Wild pitch by Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, Hendry Mendez scores; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Micah Bello walks. Arbert Cipion grounds into a force out, Maximo Acosta to Jose Acosta, Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Micah Bello out at 2nd. Zack Raabe strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)