Henry Hammers Walk-Off Hit in Game One as Mudcats Split Doubleheader With Salem

ZEBULON, N.C. - Robert Henry went 2-for-2 with an eighth inning walk-off double while leading the Mudcats to a 3-2 win in game one, but the Mudcats struck out 13 times in game two and were shutout game two 3-0 while finishing with a split in Saturday's doubleheader versus Salem at Five County Stadium.

Carolina (20-19, 54-55) trailed early in game one of Saturday's twin bill, but rallied back with a run in the fourth and fifth before eventually walking off the Red Sox (19-22, 51-58) on Henry's walk-off double with one out in the eighth. The walk-off win was Carolina's ninth of the season and their third over their last five home games.
Henry's game winning double came off Salem's Hunter Smith and scored Trever Morrison from first after he had reached moments earlier on a fielder's choice. Henry finished the first game of Saturday's doubleheader going 2-for-2 with two walks, a run and the game winning double.
Cooper Hummel, meanwhile, went 3-for-3 in game one with a run and double. He also walked and scored run in the fourth when Ryan Aguilar brought him in with a safety squeeze bunt to first. Hummel's run cut the Salem lead to 2-1 and Henry later tied it after scoring on a sacrifice fly to center in the fifth from Demi Orimoloye.
Luke Barker (6-3, 1.92) pitched the final frame of Carolina's eight inning, game one victory and struck out one while earning the win. Daniel Brown worked the sixth and seventh innings and struck out two while holding the Red Sox scoreless. 
Conor Harber started game one and finished with two runs allowed on six hits over five innings pitched. He also struck out seven while reaching 90 pitches (63 strikes). Harber also allowed a run scoring double to Chris Madera in the second and a solo home run to Brett Netzer in the third.
Tanner Houck started game one for the Red Sox and also ended up with a no-decision despite totaling eight strikeouts over five innings pitched. He also walked two and allowed two runs on six hits. Durbin Feltman followed and went on to total two strikeouts and two walks in his scoreless Carolina League debut. Smith (2-1, 6.06) then worked the final inning and a 1/3 while suffering the loss after allowing a run and two hits.
The Red Sox turned to lefty Darwinzon Hernandez for game two and wound up getting a career night from their starter. Hernandez began game two with six consecutive strikeouts before allowing a lead off single to Aguilar in the third. Hernandez went on to pitch into the fifth, but left after an apparent injury forced him out of the game. In all, Hernandez struck out nine and scattered three hits over four and 1/3 innings pitched.
Reliever Daniel Gonzalez took over for Hernandez in the fifth and went on to earn the win while holding Carolina scoreless the rest of the way. Gonzalez (8-6, 4.38) struck out four and did not allow a base runner over the final two and 2/3 while earning the win.
Netzer scored the first run of game two after reaching on a triple to right-center and then scoring on a sac fly from C.J. Chatham. Jerry Downs later hit a two-run in the sixth to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead late in the game.
Jorge Ortega (0-1, 5.79) started for Carolina and ended up taking the game two loss after allowing a run and two hits over four innings pitched. Cody Beckman came in for the fifth and sixth and allowed two runs (Downs' home run) and two hits over two innings. Wuilder Rodriguez then worked the seventh and tossed a scoreless frame while also walking two.
The doubleheader split dropped Carolina to 4.5 games back of first and 3.5 games back of the Buies Creek Astros in the Southern Division's second half standings. 
Carolina fell into a 1-1 series tie after dropping game two to the visiting Red Sox. The Mudcats will next turn to starter Devin Williams for Sunday's rubber game at Five County Stadium. Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are available by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream live via video on MiLB.tv.
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