Carolina 10 @ Kannapolis 3

July 18, 2021 | Venue : Atrium Health Ballpark | First pitch : 12:32 PM | Att : 2,142 | T : 3:03

WP: Jhoan Cruz (4 - 5) LP: Angel Acevedo (1 - 4) SV: Cam Robinson (8)

KANNAPOLIS – Ernesto Martinez hit for the cycle and was one of four Mudcats to hit a home run during Carolina’s 10-3, series finale and sweep clinching, victory versus the Cannon Ballers on Sunday afternoon in Kannapolis. The victory was Carolina’s sixth straight, matching the club’s longest winning streak of the season.

Martinez doubled and scored a run in the second, tripled and scored a run in the fourth, singled in the sixth and hit a two-run home run in the ninth while hitting for the cycle and going 4-for-5 with three runs, two RBI and a strikeout. The cycle was Carolina’s fifth in franchise history and the club’s first since 2014 when Jerrud Sabourin accomplished the rare feat on July 19, 2014 versus Myrtle Beach.

Martinez was also one of four Mudcats (40-25) to homer in the game, with three of those coming in the ninth inning. Carolina’s first home run came from Joey Wiemer in the fourth and was a go-ahead blast that broke a 2-2 tie. Felix Valerio then started the big fly barrage with a solo home run with one out in the ninth. Martinez then followed a few batters later with his two-run and two-out blast and Mike Wilson capped what was a five run ninth with his first home run of the season. Wilson’s was also a two-out shot that also scored two as it followed a single from Alex Hall.

Antoine Kelly started and pitched into the second in what was his first appearance with the Mudcats. It was also just his second appearance of 2021 as he recently pitched in the Arizona Complex League with the Brewers Blue squad on July 13. Kelly walked two in his inning and 2/3 long start, with both walks turning into runs. He also struck out two and allowed one hit.

Jhoan Cruz (4-5, 6.75) followed Kelly and went on to pitch through the seventh after originally entering the game with two outs in the second. In all, Cruz allowed just one run while scattering six hits over five and 2/3 innings pitched. He also faced 24 batters, totaled three strikeouts and walked one while earning the victory.

Robinson (S, 8) picked up the save after originally entering in the eighth with Carolina leading 5-2. He went on to allow an inherited runner to score, but eventually finished out the eighth and worked the ninth while striking out two and recording his eighth save.

Kannapolis (19-46) originally led 1-0 in the second before Martinez doubled and scored to tie the game at 1-1. That double came off starter Angel Acevedo and Martinez followed it by stealing third (his 20th stolen base of the season) a few moments later. Acevedo (1-4, 6.57) attempted to throw out Martinez at third, but he sailed the throw and the resulting error allowed Martinez to score the game tying run.

The Cannon Ballers scored again in their half of the second to go up 2-1, but Carolina answered in the third after Gabe Holt singled and scored on a single from Freddy Zamora. That hit for Zamora was his first of three in the game and it brought in Holt from second while tying the game at 2-2.

Wiemer then broke the 2-2 in the fourth by starting the inning with a line drive home run to the corner in left. The home run was his seventh of the season and his second of the series.

With Carolina leading 3-2, Martinez then followed Wiemer’s homer with his triple to right that flew under the outstretched arm of right-fielder Luis Mieses. Alex Hall then scored Martinez from third with a sacrifice fly as Carolina went up 4-2 in the fourth.

Carolina led 4-2 through the sixth before getting one more across in the seventh when Zamora singled and scored on a sac fly from Noah Campbell. The Mudcats then took a 5-2 lead into the eighth, but the Cannon Ballers would score once in that frame to cut the lead down to 5-3.

The Mudcats then broke the game open in the ninth by slugging three homers with Valerio, Martinez and Wilson each hitting home runs. That big fly burst lifted Carolina to a 10-3 lead and came against reliever Karan Patel (1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). The Cannon Ballers also used pitcher Martin Carrasco (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) and Jordan Mikel in the game (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO). Mikel worked the final out in the ninth in relief of Patel.

Carolina won all six games in the series and swept the Cannon Ballers for the second time this season. The Mudcats will now take their six-game winning streak back home as they open a new six-day and seven-game home stand on Tuesday at Five County Stadium.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina HR : Wiemer (7, 4th inning off Acevedo, 0 on, 0 out); Valerio, F (4, 9th inning off Patel, 0 on, 1 out); Martinez, E (8, 9th inning off Patel, 1 on, 2 out); Wilson (1, 9th inning off Patel, 1 on, 2 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Martinez, E, CF (Carolina): 4-for-5, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Zamora, SS (Carolina): 3-for-5, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Valerio, F, 2B (Carolina): 2-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Wiemer, RF-CF (Carolina): 1-for-5, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Wilson, LF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Rodriguez, J, SS (Kannapolis): 2-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Mieses, RF (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Mendoza, H, 1B (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Kelly (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Cruz, Jh (W, 4-5) (Carolina): 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Robinson (S, 8) (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Carrasco (Kannapolis): 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Mikel (Kannapolis): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

*SCORING PLAYS: *

Cannon Ballers 1st (Cannon Ballers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Jose Rodriguez flies out to Michael Wilson. Samil Polanco walks. Bryan Ramos flies out to Joey Wiemer, Samil Polanco to 2nd. Luis Mieses singles up the middle, Samil Polanco scores. Harvin Mendoza struck out looking.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Joey Wiemer grounds out, Samil Polanco to Harvin Mendoza. Ernesto Martinez doubles to left-center field. Alex Hall pops out to Samil Polanco. Ernesto Martinez steals 3rd base, Ernesto Martinez scores; throwing error by Angel Acevedo. Michael Wilson strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 2, Mudcats 1) -- Caberea Weaver walks. Caberea Weaver steals 2nd base. Chase Krogman strikes out swinging. Caberea Weaver steals 3rd base. Wild pitch by Antoine Kelly, Caberea Weaver scores. Lency Delgado grounds out, Gabe Holt to Ashton McGee. Pitcher Change: Jhoan Cruz replaces Antoine Kelly. Victor Torres pops out to Freddy Zamora.
(1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 2, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Gabe Holt singles to center field. Passed ball by Victor Torres, Gabe Holt to 2nd. Freddy Zamora singles through the hole at shortstop, Gabe Holt scores; Freddy Zamora out at 2nd on the throw, Chase Krogman to Samil Polanco to Lency Delgado. Ashton McGee pops out to Jose Rodriguez. Felix Valerio singles up the middle. Noah Campbell pops out to Jose Rodriguez.
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Joey Wiemer hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch. Ernesto Martinez triples to right-center field. Alex Hall out on a sacrifice fly to Caberea Weaver, Ernesto Martinez scores. Michael Wilson flies out to Luis Mieses. Gabe Holt strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 5, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Freddy Zamora singles to deep second base. Ashton McGee reaches on fielding error by Samil Polanco, Freddy Zamora to 2nd. Felix Valerio walks, Freddy Zamora to 3rd; Ashton McGee to 2nd. Noah Campbell out on a sacrifice fly to Caberea Weaver, Freddy Zamora scores. Joey Wiemer grounds into a force out, Jose Rodriguez to Lency Delgado, Ashton McGee to 3rd; Felix Valerio out at 2nd. Joey Wiemer steals 2nd base. Ernesto Martinez strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 8th (Mudcats 5, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Bryan Ramos grounds out, Gabe Holt to Ashton McGee. Luis Mieses singles to left-center field. Harvin Mendoza singles through the hole at second base, Luis Mieses to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Cam Robinson replaces Jhoan Cruz. Caberea Weaver grounds into a force out, Gabe Holt to Felix Valerio, Luis Mieses scores; Harvin Mendoza out at 2nd. Chase Krogman struck out looking.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 9th (Mudcats 10, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Ashton McGee strikes out swinging. Felix Valerio hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch. Noah Campbell walks. Joey Wiemer strikes out swinging. Ernesto Martinez hits a home run to center field on a 0-2 pitch, Noah Campbell scores. Alex Hall singles through the hole at second base. Michael Wilson hits a home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch, Alex Hall scores. Pitcher Change: Jordan Mikel replaces Karan Patel. Gabe Holt grounds out, Lency Delgado to Harvin Mendoza.
(5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)