Carolina Escapes With 2-1 Series Finale Victory In Kinston

KINSTON, N.C. - Weston Wilson broke a scoreless tie in the eighth with a two-out, two-run double, Nick Roscetti went 2-for-4 and Luke Barker earned his Carolina League leading 18th save of the season as the Mudcats avoided a series sweep with a 2-1 road win versus the Wood Ducks on Thursday night at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.

Wilson's eventual game winning double came on a 3-2 pitch from reliever Sal Mendez and came with two-outs in the eighth. Mendez (2-2, 4.20) had walked both Joantgel Segovia and Demi Orimoloye earlier in the frame before giving up Wilson's go-ahead hit that gave Carolina (58-63, 24-27) a 2-0 lead.
The Wood Ducks (52-71, 17-36) rallied back with one run in their half of the eighth on a run scoring, two-out double with two men on base from Anderson Tejeda. The double was hit off Barker (S, 18) and brought in one as Brenden Davis scored from second to cut the lead to 2-1. The trailing runner, however, in Ledarious Clark was then caught at the plate while attempting to score from first as the Mudcats escaped the frame with a 2-1 lead.
Clark was caught at home to end the Down East eighth on what was a perfect relay play in from right beginning with right-fielder Cooper Hummel and continuing with second baseman Nick Roscetti. With Roscetti relaying home, Catcher Mario Feliciano put down the tag at the plate to catch the sliding Clark and end the eighth with Carolina leading 2-1.
Barker originally entered the game in the eighth in place of reliever Victor Diaz and was the one who allowed Tejeda's double to deep right. Barker ended up allowing one inherited runner to score in the eighth, but went on to work through a three-up and three-down ninth with two strikeouts to finish the game.
Diaz (6-7, 4.65) earned the victory for the Mudcats after working through four and 1/3 innings with just one run allowed on two hits. He also struck out four and did not issue a walk while following starter Devin Williams. Like Diaz, Williams also pitched well as he worked through three and 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit allowed, two walks and three strikeouts.
Rollie Lacy started for Down East and turned in a gem for the Woodies as he pitched through seven scoreless frames with one hit allowed and six strikeouts. He left after the seventh with the game tied at 0-0, but would end up without a decision while pitching to a dominating 82 game score. Lacy also hit three batters and walked two.
Mendez took the loss after allowed two Carolina runs, walking two and totaling two strikeouts over 2/3 of an inning. Jairo Beras followed Mendez in the eighth and went on to finish the game as he pitched through an inning and 1/3 scoreless with three strikeouts.
Wilson went 1-for-4 in what was his first game back from the disabled list. He had missed Carolina's previous 14 games before returning to the lineup for Thursday's series finale in Kinston.
The win was Carolina's first and only win at Grainger Stadium this season as the Mudcats finished at just 1-8 in their nine scheduled games in Kinston in 2018. The win also lifted Carolina to 3-7 in their road trip and allowed them to avoid a series sweep as they went 1-2 in their trip concluding series at Grainger Stadium.
The Mudcats will next play at home in Zebulon on Friday with game one of a three game series against the Potomac Nationals beginning at 7:00 p.m. Friday's series opener versus the P-Nats will also be game one of Carolina's new three game home stand at Five County Stadium. Friday's game will feature a Muddy's Birthday Bash promotional theme and post-game fireworks presented by House Autry.
Tickets are available by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream live via video on MiLB.tv.
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