Gray Hits Second Homer in 4-2 Loss in Kinston

KINSTON – Joe Gray hit a solo home run in the sixth and Joey Matulovich struck out six over two and 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, but the Mudcats fell to the Wood Ducks 4-2 on Saturday night in Kinston at Grainger Stadium.

Carolina (7-5) starter Michele Vassalotti allowed just one hit, but also gave up three runs, including two in the first (one on a wild pitch) and one in the second, while taking the loss. Vassalotti (0-1, 6.35) hit five batters with pitches in the game, including two of the first three batters he faced in the first and one with the bases loaded in the second. He also walked two and struck out three in what was his first start (second appearance overall) of the season.

Matulovich took over for Vassalotti in the third and went on to hold the Wood Ducks (9-2) without a run over the next two and 1/3 innings. Matulovich faced nine batters and finished with six strikeouts against just one walk.

Trailing 3-0, Carolina later bounced back to cut the Down East lead to just one after getting a RBI single from Gabe Holt in the fifth and Gray’s home run in the sixth. The Wood Ducks, however, managed to get one of those runs back while scoring against reliever Brandon Knarr in the last of the sixth and going up by the eventual final of 4-2. Knarr ended up allowing just the one run on two hits over four innings. He also struck out six and walked one.

Gray went 2-for-4 while connecting on his second home run of the season. Holt went 1-for-3 with a RBI and Zavier Warren went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Down East starter Nick Krauth scattered four hits, walked one and struck out four over four and 2/3. Reliever Gavin Collyer allowed just one run (Gray’s homer in the sixth) while earning the win. Spencer Mraz then worked the final two and 1/3 while earning his league leading third save.

Down East’s Keyber Rodriguez drove in the game’s first run with a ground rule double in the first. He also forced in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second and after driving in a run with a bunt single to left in the sixth. Overall, Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI in the game for the Wood Ducks.

The Wood Ducks took a three games to two lead in the six-game series. The series finale is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Grainger Stadium in Kinston. Jhoan Cruz (0-0, 5.40) is scheduled to start for the Mudcats.

HOME RUNS:
Carolina HR : Gray Jr. (2, 6th inning off Collyer, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Gray Jr., CF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Holt, 2B (Carolina): 1-for-3, 0 R, 1 RBI
Warren, C (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R
Rodriguez, K, 3B (Down East): 2-for-3, 0 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Easley, LF (Down East): 2-for-3, 2 R

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Matulovich (Carolina): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Knarr (Carolina): 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Krauth (Down East): 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Collyer (W, 1-0) (Down East): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Mraz (S, 3) (Down East): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

SCORING:
Wood Ducks 1st (Wood Ducks 2, Mudcats 0) -- Evan Carter hit by pitch. Evan Carter steals 2nd base. Luisangel Acuna grounds out, Felix Valerio to Ashton McGee, Evan Carter to 3rd. Dustin Harris hit by pitch. Keyber Rodriguez hits a ground rule double to right-center field, Evan Carter scores; Dustin Harris to 3rd. Cody Freeman flies out to Joey Wiemer. Wild pitch by Michele Vassalotti, Dustin Harris scores; Keyber Rodriguez to 3rd. Keithron Moss walks. Obie Ricumstrict strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Wood Ducks 2nd (Wood Ducks 3, Mudcats 0) -- Antonio Cabello strikes out swinging. Jayce Easley walks. Jayce Easley steals 2nd base. Wild pitch by Michele Vassalotti, Jayce Easley to 3rd. Evan Carter hit by pitch. Luisangel Acuna hit by pitch, Evan Carter to 2nd. Dustin Harris strikes out swinging. Keyber Rodriguez hit by pitch, Jayce Easley scores; Evan Carter to 3rd; Luisangel Acuna to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Joey Matulovich replaces Michele Vassalotti. Cody Freeman flies out to Joe Gray Jr.
(1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Mudcats 5th (Wood Ducks 3, Mudcats 1) -- Zavier Warren singles to left field. Felix Valerio grounds out, Keyber Rodriguez to Dustin Harris, Zavier Warren to 2nd. Ashton McGee singles through the hole at shortstop, Zavier Warren to 3rd. Arbert Cipion pops out to Keithron Moss. Gabe Holt singles to right-center field, Zavier Warren scores; Ashton McGee to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Gavin Collyer replaces Nick Krauth. Wild pitch by Gavin Collyer, Gabe Holt to 2nd. Noah Campbell flies out to Jayce Easley.
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Wood Ducks 3, Mudcats 2) -- Joe Gray Jr. hits a home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch. Ernesto Martinez flies out to Jayce Easley. Joey Wiemer struck out looking. Zavier Warren grounds out to Dustin Harris.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Wood Ducks 6th (Wood Ducks 4, Mudcats 2) -- Jayce Easley singles to shallow left field. Jayce Easley steals 2nd base. Evan Carter strikes out swinging. Luisangel Acuna walks. Dustin Harris grounds out to Ashton McGee, Jayce Easley to 3rd; Luisangel Acuna to 2nd. Keyber Rodriguez bunt singles to shallow left field, Jayce Easley scores; Luisangel Acuna to 3rd. Wild pitch by Brandon Knarr, Keyber Rodriguez to 2nd. Cody Freeman grounds out, Felix Valerio to Ashton McGee.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)