Gatewood's six RBIs leads Mudcats to 7-6 victory

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Jake Gatewood hit a three-run home run in the first and hit a two-out, three-run double in the seventh while leading the Mudcats to a series clinching 7-6 win versus the Dash at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem on Monday night. Gatewood was 3-for-4 and matched a career high with six RBIs on Monday night.

The road victory sealed Carolina's fourth straight series win as the Mudcats (24-20) won the series three games to one. It also helped the Mudcats pull within 2.5 games of first in the Carolina League Southern Division standings behind the Buies Creek Astros.
Gatewood was 3-for-4 and accounted for six of Carolina's seven runs in the game. His three-run home run in the first put Carolina up 3-0 and his two-out, bases loaded double in the seventh gave the Mudcats a 7-6 lead. The seventh inning double was his second of the game and counted for his league leading 18th of the season. His home run, meanwhile, was his seventh of the year, matching him with Isan Díaz for the team lead.
Carolina led first in Monday's game after getting Gatewood's early home run, but lost the lead as the Dash (14-31) came back with a run in the first and three in the fourth while going out in front 4-3.
Kodi Medeiros started for the Mudcats and allowed six runs on seven hits while pitching through five and 1/3 innings. He finished with a season high eight strikeouts, but also walked two, hit a batter and gave up seven hits.
The Dash rallied for one run against Medeiros in the first on back-to-back two-out doubles from Zack Collins and Landon Lassiter to cut the lead to 3-1. They later loaded the bases in the fourth and went on to rally for three more runs while taking a 4-3 lead. 
Medeiros stayed in for the sixth, but left the game after giving up a run scoring hit to Toby Thomas and a single to Johan Cruz. Brad Kuntz followed and eventually retired Danny Mendick to end the inning, but only after seeing an inherited runner score on him a double steal.
The Dash rallied for two runs in the sixth and led 6-3 before the Mudcats came back with a four run seventh. All four runs were scored with two outs in the inning and were scored against relievers Andre Wheeler and Ryan Riga. Diaz forced in the first run with a bases loaded walk and Gatewood capped the rally with a three-run double to right-center.
Wheeler was charged with three runs in the seventh, but earned the hold after originally working through two outs in the sixth. Riga (0-3, 4.05) took a blown save and the loss after allowing three inherited runners to score in the inning.
Kuntz (2-2, 4.42) earned the victory for the Mudcats and Jordan Yamamoto picked up the save after working through the final three innings. Yamamoto (S, 1) struck out five, allowed one hit and kept the Dash scoreless over three frames.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats next play on Tuesday night in Kinston as they take on the Down East Wood Ducks for game one of a three game series at Grainger Stadium. Tuesday's game is at 7:00 p.m. and will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and carolinamudcats.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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