Comeback 'Cats Fall 5-4 Despite Late Heroics
KINSTON, N.C. - Weston Wilson homered twice, including a game tying home run with two-outs in the ninth, but Brenden Davis of the Wood Ducks came through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as Down East defeated Carolina 5-4 on Saturday night at Grainger Stadium.
KINSTON, N.C. - Weston Wilson homered twice, including a game tying home run with two-outs in the ninth, but Brenden Davis of the Wood Ducks came through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as Down East defeated Carolina 5-4 on Saturday night at Grainger Stadium.
Wilson's game tying home run came on a 2-2 pitch and with two outs in the ninth off reliever Jacob Shortslef (BS, 1-1, 2.38). Wilson also homered to bring the Mudcats (11-12) within one in the seventh and went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the game for Carolina.
The Down East (11-12) ninth, meanwhile, began with a walk from Blaine Prescott, but Carolina reliever Chase Williams went on to retire the next two batters while momentarily holding the 4-4 tie. The first out was a sacrifice bunt from Leody Taveras, while the second was a groundout from Anderson Tejeda. Prescott reached third following the two quick outs and then scored moments later on a line drive single to left off the bat of Davis.
Davis went 2-for-5 with two RBI for the Wood Ducks as they earned their second straight walk-off victory versus the Mudcats. It was also their third straight win overall.
Williams (2-2, 4.35) allowed the game winning hit and ended up taking the loss for the second straight night. The hit he allowed to Davis did not go without controversy though as the Mudcats contested that it landed foul down the line. Dallas Carroll laid out while attempting to catch the game deciding hit from Davis, but the ball soared slightly beyond his reach behind third. The ball landed close to the third base line and was ruled fair by home plate umpire Isaias Barba. Multiple Mudcats players and field staff contested with Barba that ball landed foul, some pointed to a divot in the dirt on the foul side of the line.
Carolina did lead first in Saturday's loss to the Wood Ducks in Kinston. Tucker Neuhaus put them up 2-0 in the first after hitting a two-run homer off starter Walker Weickel in the opening frame. Neuhaus also hit a first inning home run the night prior in Kinston and has totaled four home runs and 14 RBI on the season. He ended up going 1-for-4 with two RBI in the game for Carolina.
Weickel settled in immediately after the home run and went to retire nine straight batters following the Neuhaus home run. In all, Weickel scattered five hits and allowed three runs while striking out a career best 12 over six and 2/3 innings pitched. He left the game in the seventh after allowing Wilson's first home run and a double to Luis Aviles Jr. Jr.
Carolina's 2-0 lead disappeared in the fifth after the Wood Ducks rallied for three runs off Marcos Diplan while taking a 4-2 lead. Diplan began his start with three scoreless frames before giving up a run on three hits in the third and three runs on three hits in the fifth.
Diplan nearly escaped the fifth without allowing a run, but he ended up giving up three straight two-out doubles before being removed from the game. Tejeda, Davis and Andretty Cordero each brought in a run with their two-out doubles as the Wood Ducks took a 4-2 lead. Diplan finished his outing allowing four runs on seven hits over four and 2/3 innings. He also walked two and struck out four.
The Mudcats trailed 4-2 after the fifth and did not score again until getting Wilson's home run in the seventh. Weickel allowed that home run and later left with the two outs in the seventh. Jake Lemoine followed and ended up working through a scoreless frame while pitching the end of the seventh and part of the eighth. Lefty Locke St. John later finished the eighth by striking out the left-handed batting Neuhaus with a runner on base.
Carolina then tied the game on Wilson's home run in the ninth, but Davis then answered with his walk-off single in the ninth. The Mudcats homered three times in the game, but lost 5-4 while also falling behind two games to none in the three game series. The Mudcats also struck out 14 times and did not reach on a walk in what was a series clinching win for the Wood Ducks.
The Mudcats will look to avoid a three game sweep as they play the Wood Ducks in Sunday's series finale at Grainger Stadium. RHP Trey Supak (1-0, 0.90) will start for Carolina in Sunday's finale, while LHP Christian Torres (1-2, 4.76) will start for Down East. Sunday's game will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Kinston and will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio on www.carolinamudcats.com.
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