Early Deficit Too Much in 11-4 Loss to Kannapolis

Carolina 4 @ Kannapolis 11
August 27, 2022 | Venue : Atrium Health Ballpark | First pitch : 7:02 PM | Att : 4,336 | T : 2:54

CAR: 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 6 0
KAN: 5 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 x 11 15 1

WP: Manuel Veloz (2 - 0) LP: Yujanyer Herrera (0 - 1)

KANNAPOLIS – Branlyn Jaraba hit a two-run home run, both Hedbert Perez and Luis Castillo had run scoring hits, reliever Jeferson Figueroa totaled eight strikeouts over four and 2/3 innings, but starter Yujanyer Herrera gave up five runs in the first and four in the second as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers defeated the Carolina Mudcats 11-4 on Saturday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

Herrera (0-1) began his start for the Mudcats (29-24, 63-56) with a pop out, but then walked a batter before giving up four straight hits, including a RBI single to Tim Elko, a three-run double to Samil Polanco and a Misael Gonzalez RBI double in the first. Despite reaching 35 pitches and allowing five runs in the first, Herrera came back out for the second and went on to allow four more Kannapolis (27-26, 53-66) runs on four additional hits. Brooks Baldwin, Polanco and Jayson Gonzalez each drove in runs in the second for the Cannon Ballers.

Reliever Michele Vassalotti eventually took over for Herrera in the second and would go on to work through next inning and 2/3 with one run, three hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Figueroa followed and finished game after taking over in the fourth and working through the eighth. Figueroa struck out eight and allowed a run on three hits in his solid appearance.

Carolina’s runs came on a Perez RBI single in the second, Jaraba’s two-run homer in the seventh and Castillo’s RBI single in the eighth. Manuel Veloz allowed Jaraba’s home run, but ended up with the win after going through four and 2/3 with five strikeouts. Veloz (2-0) gave up two runs on three hits in the victory.

Both Jose Sibrian and Robert Moore were held hitless in the loss, thus ending their respective hit streaks at nine and eight straight.

The loss, combined with a Fredericksburg Nationals victory versus the Down East Wood Ducks, dropped the Mudcats to 4.5 games back of the first place FredNats in the Carolina League North second half standings. Only 13 games remain this season.

HOME RUNS:
Carolina: Jaraba (2, 7th inning off Veloz, 1 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Claunch, C (Kannapolis): 3-for-5, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Elko, 1B (Kannapolis): 3-for-5, 3 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Polanco, DH (Kannapolis): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI
Gonzalez, J, 3B (Kannapolis): 2-for-5, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI
Gonzalez, M, RF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 0 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Perez, LF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Jaraba, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Vassalotti (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Figueroa (Carolina): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Murphy (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Veloz (W, 2-0) (Kannapolis): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
Edwards (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Veras, F (Kannapolis): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:
Cannon Ballers 1st (Cannon Ballers 5, Mudcats 0) -- Jordan Sprinkle pops out to Jadher Areinamo in foul territory. Brooks Baldwin walks. Troy Claunch singles through the hole at second base, Brooks Baldwin to 3rd. Tim Elko singles to deep second base, Brooks Baldwin scores; Troy Claunch to 2nd. Jacob Burke singles to deep shortstop, Troy Claunch to 3rd; Tim Elko to 2nd. Samil Polanco doubles to right field, Troy Claunch scores; Tim Elko scores; Jacob Burke scores. Jayson Gonzalez struck out looking. Misael Gonzalez doubles through the hole at second base, Samil Polanco scores. Wilber Sanchez walks. Misael Gonzalez steals 3rd base. Wilber Sanchez caught stealing 2nd base, Jose Sibrian to Jadher Areinamo.
(5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 2nd (Cannon Ballers 5, Mudcats 1) -- Jesus Chirinos singles through the hole at shortstop. Luis Castillo walks, Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Eduarqui Fernandez pops out to Tim Elko in foul territory. Wild pitch by Shane Murphy, Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Luis Castillo to 2nd. Hedbert Perez singles to left field, Jesus Chirinos scores. Branlyn Jaraba flies out to Brooks Baldwin. Jose Sibrian lines out to Jacob Burke.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 9, Mudcats 1) -- Jordan Sprinkle singles to deep shortstop. Jordan Sprinkle steals 2nd base. Brooks Baldwin singles to right-center field, Jordan Sprinkle scores. Troy Claunch singles to center field, Brooks Baldwin to 2nd. Tim Elko singles through the hole at shortstop, Brooks Baldwin to 3rd; Troy Claunch to 2nd. Jacob Burke struck out looking. Samil Polanco out on a sacrifice fly to Hedbert Perez, Brooks Baldwin scores. Pitcher Change: Michele Vassalotti replaces Yujanyer Herrera. Passed ball by Jose Sibrian, Troy Claunch to 3rd; Tim Elko to 2nd. Jayson Gonzalez doubles to center field, Troy Claunch scores; Tim Elko scores. Misael Gonzalez strikes out swinging.
(4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 4th (Cannon Ballers 10, Mudcats 1) -- Tim Elko strikes out swinging. Jacob Burke hit by pitch. Samil Polanco walks, Jacob Burke to 2nd. Jayson Gonzalez singles through the hole at shortstop, Jacob Burke scores; Samil Polanco to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Jeferson Figueroa replaces Michele Vassalotti on a 3-0 count. Misael Gonzalez walks, Samil Polanco to 3rd; Jayson Gonzalez to 2nd. Wilber Sanchez grounds into double play, Branlyn Jaraba to Jadher Areinamo to Jesus Chirinos, Misael Gonzalez out at 2nd, Wilber Sanchez out at 1st.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 6th (Cannon Ballers 11, Mudcats 1) -- Tim Elko doubles to center field. Wild pitch by Jeferson Figueroa, Tim Elko to 3rd. Jacob Burke strikes out swinging. Samil Polanco hit by pitch. Jayson Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Misael Gonzalez doubles to center field, Tim Elko scores; Samil Polanco to 3rd. Wilber Sanchez strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 7th (Cannon Ballers 11, Mudcats 3) -- Eduarqui Fernandez strikes out swinging. Hedbert Perez doubles to right-center field. Branlyn Jaraba hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch, Hedbert Perez scores. Jose Sibrian grounds out to Tim Elko. Pitcher Change: Christian Edwards replaces Manuel Veloz. Robert Moore flies out to Misael Gonzalez.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Cannon Ballers 11, Mudcats 4) -- Jadher Areinamo flies out to Misael Gonzalez. Hendry Mendez reaches on fielding error by Wilber Sanchez. Passed ball by Troy Claunch, Hendry Mendez to 2nd. Jesus Chirinos walks. Luis Castillo singles up the middle, Hendry Mendez scores; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Wild pitch by Christian Edwards, Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Luis Castillo to 2nd. Eduarqui Fernandez strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Frander Veras replaces Christian Edwards. Hedbert Perez flies out to Jacob Burke.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)