Garcia Leads Late Comeback in 6-4 Victory in Extras

Carolina 6 @ Down East 4 (10)

May 01, 2022 | Venue : Grainger Stadium | First pitch : 1:01 PM | Att : 1,423 | T : 2:24

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 6 8 0

DE: 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 0

WP: Jakob Brustoski (1 - 0) LP: Michael Brewer (1 - 1) SV: Trevor Tietz (3)

KINSTON – Eduardo Garcia hit a three-run home run in the eighth and a two-run double in the tenth while driving in five runs and Jheremy Vargas hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the ninth as the Carolina Mudcats erased a four-run deficit in the eighth while storming back to defeat the Down East Wood Ducks 6-4 in ten on Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium in Kinston. Reliever Jacob Brustoski struck out four over the eighth and ninth while earning his first career victory.

The Mudcats (11-10) were down 4-0 through the seventh before scoring three times in the eighth and once in the ninth to tie the game at 4-4. Carolina then rallied for two more in the tenth while taking a 6-4 lead and taking Sunday’s series finale from the Wood Ducks (9-12) in Kinston. The victory was Carolina’s first in extra-innings this season and sealed a 4-2 series win on the road for the Mudcats.

Brustoski (1-0) worked the most of the eighth, and pitched around a hit-batter and a walk while working a scoreless ninth. Trevor Tietz (3) took over for the tenth and left two men on base while striking out the side to close out his third save of the season.

It was Garcia who sparked Carolina’s biggest comeback of the season as his two-run home run in the eighth cut the Down East lead to 4-3. Vargas then homered with two outs in the ninth to tie it at 4-4 before Garcia broke the tie with a two-run double in the tenth.

Relievers Teodoro Ortega and Destin Dotson (BS, 1) combined to allow all four runs over the eighth and ninth. Michael Brewer (1-1) allowed the two in the tenth while taking the loss.

Winston Santos started for Down East and struck out five over five and 2/3 innings. Miguel Segura started for the Mudcats and allowed two runs on three hits over five innings. He also walked three and struck out four. Carlos Rodriguez followed and worked through two and 1/3 with two runs allowed on three hits.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Garcia, E (2, 8th inning off Dotson, 2 on, 1 out); Vargas (1, 9th inning off Dotson, 0 on, 2 out).

Down East: Acosta, M (1, 6th inning off Rodriguez, 0 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Garcia, E, SS (Carolina): 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Vargas, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Cipion, LF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B

Mitchell, C (Down East): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 3B

Acosta, M, SS (Down East): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Rodriguez, J, 1B (Down East): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Acosta, J, 2B (Down East): 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Segura (Carolina): 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO

Brustoski (W, 1-0) (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Tietz (S, 3) (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Santos (Down East): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Dotson (BS, 1) (Down East): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

SCORING:

Wood Ducks 2nd (Wood Ducks 1, Mudcats 0) -- Maximo Acosta doubles to shallow center field. Jose Rodriguez singles to center field, Maximo Acosta scores; Jose Rodriguez out at 2nd on the throw, Hedbert Perez to Jose Sibrian to Eduardo Garcia. Junior Paniagua flies out to Hedbert Perez. Yosy Galan grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Wood Ducks 5th (Wood Ducks 2, Mudcats 0) -- Jose Rodriguez flies out to Arbert Cipion. Junior Paniagua pops out to Jheremy Vargas in foul territory. Yosy Galan walks. Jose Acosta doubles to right field, Yosy Galan scores; Jose Acosta to 3rd. Daniel Mateo walks. Brady Smith strikes out swinging.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Wood Ducks 6th (Wood Ducks 4, Mudcats 0) -- Pitcher Change: Carlos Rodriguez replaces Miguel Segura. Tucker Mitchell triples to left field. Marcus Smith strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by Carlos Rodriguez, Tucker Mitchell scores. Maximo Acosta hits a home run to left field on a 3-0 pitch. Jose Rodriguez grounds out, Jesus Chirinos to Carlos Rodriguez. Junior Paniagua pops out to Zack Raabe.

(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Wood Ducks 4, Mudcats 3) -- Jose Sibrian walks. Zack Raabe strikes out swinging. Arbert Cipion walks, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Destin Dotson replaces Teodoro Ortega. Eduardo Garcia hits a home run to left field on a 0-2 pitch, Jose Sibrian scores; Arbert Cipion scores. Hendry Mendez struck out looking. Jeferson Quero strikes out swinging.

(3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 9th (Mudcats 4, Wood Ducks 4) -- Hedbert Perez flies out to Marcus Smith. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging. Jheremy Vargas hits a home run to center field on a 1-0 pitch. Jose Sibrian struck out looking.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 10th (Mudcats 6, Wood Ducks 4) -- Pitcher Change: Michael Brewer replaces Destin Dotson. Jose Sibrian starts inning at 2nd base. Zack Raabe reaches on a fielder's choice out, Jose Acosta to Junior Paniagua, Jose Sibrian out at 3rd. Arbert Cipion doubles to right field, Zack Raabe to 3rd. Eduardo Garcia doubles to left field, Zack Raabe scores; Arbert Cipion scores. Hendry Mendez flies out to Marcus Smith. Jeferson Quero strikes out swinging.

(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)