ZEBULON, N.C. - Isan Díaz finished Carolina's biggest comeback victory of the season with a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth as the Mudcats rallied back from a five run deficit to defeat the Dash 6-5 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.
ZEBULON, N.C. - Isan Díaz finished Carolina's biggest comeback victory of the season with a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth as the Mudcats rallied back from a five run deficit to defeat the Dash 6-5 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.
The Mudcats (6-4, 42-36) trailed the visiting Dash (5-5, 29-51) by five in the second, but managed to score once in the fourth before getting three in the sixth and two in the eighth to complete their largest comeback win of the season. The Mudcats improved to 11-1 overall and 8-0 versus Winston-Salem at home this season with the victory.
Carolina trailed 5-4 entering their half of the eighth before rallying for two straight hits and scoring two runs on relievers Kyle Kubat and Jack Charleston. Kubat (0-1, 6.00) allowed two hits and left with two on before Charleston (BS, 1) took over out of the bullpen. Charleston went on to walk Max McDowell before then giving up the go-ahead, bases loaded single to Diaz.
Both Trent Clark and Luis Aviles Jr. scored on Diaz's go-ahead two-run single in the game deciding eighth. Clark started the frame with a bunt single and scored from third to tie the game. Aviles, meanwhile, doubled in the inning and came across to score the go-ahead run from second just moments after Clark scored from third.
Clark was 1-for-2 with two run, two walks, one RBI and three stolen bases in the victory for the Mudcats. Aviles was 2-for-3 with two runs, a RBI and a walk as well. He also turned a double play in the ninth for the final two outs while sealing the comeback victory for Carolina.
Frank Lopez pitched through three scoreless in relief between the sixth and eighth and earned his second straight win. Lopez (2-0, 8.00) struck out four and scattered two hits over his three scoreless frames. Nate Griep pitched the ninth and finished the game by inducing a double play while earning his league leading 17th save of the season.
The Mudcats also scored three times in the sixth against reliever Drew Hasler while pulling within one and cutting the Dash lead to 5-4. McDowell ripped a two-run double in the sixth and was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in the game.
Carolina's rally started back in the fourth when Clark walked and managed to steal both second and third before scoring on a wild pitch from starter Alec Hansen. The fourth inning run was all that Hansen allowed as he worked through the fifth with one run on four hits. He also walked three and struck out five before leaving the game.
Marcos Diplan started for the Mudcats and allowed five runs over the first two innings, but went on to hold the Dash scoreless between the third and fifth. He allowed one of the two first innings run in on a wild pitch and later gave up run scoring doubles to Jameson Fisher and Joel Booker in the three run second.
Booker was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the game for the Dash. Fisher was 1-for-5 with a run, but also hit into the game ending double play in the ninth. Danny Mendick was 2-for-3 with a run and one RBI for Winston-Salem.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats and Dash meet again on Sunday in game three of the four game set beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium. Conor Harber (1-5, 5.74) will start for the Mudcats in game three of the series and will look to lead Carolina to a three games to none series lead. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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