Leones Lifts Mudcats to Doubleheader Split

LISTEN: Post-Game Interview with Manager Victor Estevez

ZEBULON – Oswal Leones lifted the Carolina Mudcats to a doubleheader split with a walk-off single in the second game of Saturday’s games with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats won the second game with two runs in the final inning, while the Cannon Ballers hit five home runs in the first game to open the twin-bill with a 7-4 victory.

The Mudcats (25-19) fell behind 6-0 early in Game 1 as the Cannon Ballers (18-26) hit five home runs over the second, third and fourth innings against Carolina starter Stiven Cruz. DJ Gladney homered twice, while Logan Glass, Samil Polanco and Benyamin Bailey added one big fly each off Cruz (0-1) to help the Cannon Ballers open the doubleheader with a 7-4 victory.

Carolina, however, did stage a late rally in the seventh and final inning of Game 1 with three late runs, but the Cannon Ballers held on as Carolina left two men on base. The loss was Carolina’s first to Kannapolis in the six-game home series. Hedbert Perez doubled and scored, and both Eduardo Garcia and Jackson Chourio had run-scoring hits in the seventh for Carolina.

Game 2 also saw the Cannon Ballers power their way to a 3-2 lead on home runs from both Colson Montgomery and Gladney. Montgomery homered in the fourth to put Kannapolis up 2-0, but the Mudcats rallied back with two runs in the last of that same fourth inning while tying the game at 2-2. After hitting two home runs in Game 1, Gladney then broke the 2-2 with a home run in the sixth, giving the Cannon Ballers a 3-2 lead. With starter Noah Owen out of the game, the Mudcats would then go on to rally for two runs and two hits in the seventh off reliever Zach Cable while taking the second game of the Saturday doubleheader 4-3. Cable (BS, 0-1) started the seventh with a strikeout, but then walked Raabe, gave up a game-tying hit to Silva and eventually the game winner to Leones.

Oswal Leones with the walk-off! pic.twitter.com/D62pxTIlVO

— Carolina Mudcats (@CarolinaMudcats) May 29, 2022

The Mudcats clinched a series victory with their Game 2 walk-off as they went up 4-1 in the six-game home series. Carolina also held on to first place in the Carolina League North with the Saturday doubleheader split.

The series, and 12-game homestand, both conclude on Sunday at Five County Stadium with Brewers star shortstop Willy Adames scheduled to play for the Mudcats as part of a Major League rehab assignment. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., the Five County Stadium gates will open at 12:00 p.m.

GAME 1

Kannapolis 7 @ Carolina 4

May 28, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 4:00 PM | Att : - | T : 2:12

KAN: 0 1 3 2 0 0 1 7 10 1

CAR: 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 8 2

WP: Kohl Simas (2 - 1) LP: Stiven Cruz (0 - 1) SV: Adisyn Coffey (2)

HOME RUNS:

Kannapolis: Gladney 2 (6, 2nd inning off Cruz, 0 on, 0 out, 3rd inning off Cruz, 1 on, 2 out); Glass (1, 3rd inning off Cruz, 0 on, 0 out); Polanco (4, 4th inning off Cruz, 0 on, 0 out); Bailey (1, 4th inning off Cruz, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Garcia, E, SS (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 RBI

Chourio, CF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Perez, LF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B

Chirinos, 1B (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 RBI

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

Gladney, 1B (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Veras, W, 3B (Kannapolis): 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Polanco, 2B (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Bailey, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Glass, RF-LF (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Morales (Carolina): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Brustoski (Carolina): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Simas (W, 2-1) (Kannapolis): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

Coffey (S, 2) (Kannapolis): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 1, Mudcats 0) -- DJ Gladney hits a home run to left-center field on a 2-0 pitch. Wilfred Veras hits a ground rule double to left field. Samil Polanco flies out to Hedbert Perez. Benyamin Bailey strikes out swinging. Victor Torres flies out to Jackson Chourio.

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

Cannon Ballers 3rd (Cannon Ballers 4, Mudcats 0) -- Logan Glass hits a home run to right-center field on a 0-1 pitch. James Beard strikes out swinging. Colby Smelley hit by pitch. Colson Montgomery pops out to Jheremy Vargas in foul territory. DJ Gladney hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Colby Smelley scores. Wilfred Veras pops out to Jesus Chirinos in foul territory.

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

Cannon Ballers 4th (Cannon Ballers 6, Mudcats 0) -- Samil Polanco hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch. Benyamin Bailey hits a home run to right field on a 2-2 pitch. Victor Torres strikes out swinging. Logan Glass strikes out swinging. James Beard grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Mudcats 5th (Cannon Ballers 6, Mudcats 1) -- Jeferson Quero walks. Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging. Jose Sibrian singles to deep shortstop, Jeferson Quero to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas singles to shallow left field, Jeferson Quero scores; Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Zack Raabe strikes out swinging.

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

Cannon Ballers 7th (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 1) -- Pitcher Change: Jakob Brustoski replaces Karlos Morales. Colby Smelley strikes out swinging. Colson Montgomery walks. Wild pitch by Jakob Brustoski, Colson Montgomery to 2nd. DJ Gladney pops out to Eduardo Garcia. Wilfred Veras singles to center field, Colson Montgomery scores. Samil Polanco singles to right field, Wilfred Veras to 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Misael Gonzalez replaces Benyamin Bailey. Misael Gonzalez strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 7th (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 4) -- Misael Gonzalez remains in the game as the right fielder. Defensive switch from right field to left field for Logan Glass. Hedbert Perez doubles to right-center field. Wild pitch by Brian Carrion, Hedbert Perez to 3rd. Jesus Chirinos singles to center field, Hedbert Perez scores. Jose Sibrian flies out to Misael Gonzalez. Jheremy Vargas grounds into a force out, Wilfred Veras to Samil Polanco, Jesus Chirinos out at 2nd. Zack Raabe singles to right field, Jheremy Vargas to 3rd. Eduardo Garcia singles to right field, Jheremy Vargas scores; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Adisyn Coffey replaces Brian Carrion. Jackson Chourio singles to right-center field, Zack Raabe scores; Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Hendry Mendez strikes out swinging.

(3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

GAME 2

Kannapolis 3 @ Carolina 4

May 28, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 6:55 PM | Att : 3,558 | T : 1:39

KAN: 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 4 0

CAR: 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 7 1

WP: Israel Puello (3 - 5) LP: Zach Cable (0 - 1)

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Montgomery (3, 4th inning off Jimenez, 0 on, 0 out); Gladney (7, 6th inning off Puello, 0 on, 2 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Leones, LF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Silva, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 RBI

Chourio, DH (Carolina): 2-for-3, 1 R

Montgomery, DH (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Gladney, RF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Jimenez (Carolina): 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Puello (W, 3-5) (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Owen (Kannapolis): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 1, Mudcats 0) -- DJ Gladney doubles to right-center field. Wilfred Veras grounds out, Luis Silva to Jesus Chirinos. Samil Polanco walks. Benyamin Bailey lines out to Hedbert Perez, DJ Gladney scores; Samil Polanco to 2nd; throwing error by Hedbert Perez. Keegan Fish flies out to Hedbert Perez.

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

Cannon Ballers 4th (Cannon Ballers 2, Mudcats 0) -- Colson Montgomery hits a home run to right field on a 3-2 pitch. DJ Gladney grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos. Wilfred Veras strikes out swinging. Samil Polanco grounds out, Zack Raabe to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Mudcats 4th (Cannon Ballers 2, Mudcats 2) -- Oswel Leones struck out looking. Hendry Mendez singles to right-center field. Eduardo Garcia grounds into a force out, Wes Kath to Samil Polanco, Hendry Mendez out at 2nd. Jackson Chourio singles to left field, Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Jeferson Quero singles to center field, Eduardo Garcia scores; Jackson Chourio to 3rd. Wild pitch by Noah Owen, Jackson Chourio scores; Jeferson Quero to 2nd. Hedbert Perez grounds out, Samil Polanco to Wilfred Veras.

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

Cannon Ballers 6th (Cannon Ballers 3, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Israel Puello replaces Edwin Jimenez. Wes Kath strikes out swinging. Colson Montgomery grounds out, Luis Silva to Jesus Chirinos. DJ Gladney hits a home run to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch. Wilfred Veras grounds out, Luis Silva to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Pitcher Change: Zach Cable replaces Noah Owen. Jesus Chirinos struck out looking. Zack Raabe walks. Zack Raabe steals 2nd base. Luis Silva singles to right field, Zack Raabe scores; Luis Silva to 2nd.

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