McInerney's Walk-Off Single Leads Carolina to 2-1 Series Clinching Win
ZEBULON, N.C. - Pat McInerney delivered a game winning walk-off single with bases loaded in the ninth and Tristen Lutz hit a game tying home run in the fourth as the Mudcats earned a 2-1 series clinching versus Potomac in front of a crowd of 5,416 at Five County Stadium
ZEBULON, N.C. - Pat McInerney delivered a game winning walk-off single with bases loaded in the ninth and Tristen Lutz hit a game tying home run in the fourth as the Mudcats earned a 2-1 series clinching versus Potomac in front of a crowd of 5,416 at Five County Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Carolina (14-10) earned its second straight series victory, taking it two games to one, after sealing Sunday's series finale in walk-off fashion versus the Nationals (9-15). The walk-off win was Carolina's second of the season and McInerney's game winning hit came in just his third game of 2019.
With the game tied 1-1 in the ninth, the Mudcats went on to load the bases after reliever Frankie Bartow hit Lutz with a pitch to begin the final frame. Payton Henry followed with a line out to left, but then both Rob Henry and Ryan Aguilar reached on walks ahead of McInerney. Bartow (0-1, 1.20) and McInerney then locked up in an eight pitch at bat that ended with McInerney driving in the game winner on a full count pitch to center.
McInerney's game winning hit scored Lutz from and was his sixth hit of both the season and series. McInerney made his 2019 debut on April 26 in game one of the three game home series versus Potomac and ended up going 6-for-13 with five runs, two doubles, a home run and four RBI overall over three games against the Nationals.
Potomac did score first in Sunday's finale, but managed just the one run on three hits as starter Drew Rasmussen and relievers Matt Smith and Rodrigo Benoit stifled the P-Nats offense throughout most of the game.
Rasmussen pitched the third and allowed all three Potomac hits and the lone Potomac run. He was unscored upon over the first two frames, but then gave up an infield hit to ninth place hitter Armond Upshaw to start the third and then a run scoring double to Nick Banks. Rasmussen went on to finish the third and ended his third start as a Mudcat with one run allowed on three hits over three innings pitched. He also struck out three and faced 12 batters.
Smith was nearly perfect in his relief appearance as he followed Rasmussen and worked through four scoreless frames with five strikeouts. Smith worked around a walk in the sixth with an inning ending 3-6-3 double play and ended up facing just 12 batters over four innings pitched.
Benoit (1-0, 0.93) then worked the final two frames and earned the win after striking out one and facing seven over the eighth and ninth innings.
Grant Borne started for Potomac and pitched through five innings with one run allowed (Lutz's home run) on two hits. He also struck out three and did not walk a batter. Reliever Steven Fuentes followed and pitched through three scoreless innings with two hits allowed and two strikeouts.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats will next play in Salem, VA on Monday night as they take on the Salem Red Sox for the first time this season. Monday's game will begin at 7:05 p.m. at Haley Toyota Field in Salem and will feature RHP Noah Zavolas (1-1, 2.35) starting for Carolina. The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
# # #
Mudcats Single-Game Tickets On Sale Now
ZEBULON, N.C. – The Carolina Mudcats, the Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, today announced that single-game tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now at www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon. Single-game ticket availability opens up all of
Job Fair Event Set for Thursday, Feb. 27
ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats are hiring! The Mudcats will host their annual job fair event on Thursday, February 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. Through the job fair, the Mudcats will look to fill open part-time game-day and seasonal full-time
Nick Stanley Returning as Manager of the Mudcats
ZEBULON, N.C. – The Carolina Mudcats, in conjunction with the Milwaukee Brewers, are thrilled to announce that Nick Stanley is returning as manager of the Mudcats for the 2025 season. The announcement came today as the Brewers announced their player development staff assignments for the 2025 season, including Minor League
Wilson Minor League Baseball To Unveil Team Name And Branding At Public Celebration On Friday, November 22
MILWAUKEE – Wilson’s new Class A affiliated Minor League Baseball Team, which will debut in a beautiful new stadium downtown in 2026, is inviting the public to celebrate the unveiling of the team’s name and branding next Friday, November 22. The event will be hosted by the Milwaukee Brewers (the
Cooper Pratt Named Rawlings Gold Glove Award Recipient
ZEBULON, N.C. – Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) and Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., today announced that 2024 Carolina Mudcats shortstop Cooper Pratt has been named the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® winner for defensive excellence for the shortstop position. Pratt, 20, handled 338 total chances, helped turn 51 double plays and
Pratt, Stanley Honored with Postseason Awards
ZEBULON, N.C. – Coming off a season in which the Carolina Mudcats finished with a 78-51 record, the best mark in the Carolina League, it was announced on Thursday that infielder Cooper Pratt and manager Nick Stanley were honored by Minor League Baseball as postseason All-Star selections. Pratt, a sixth-round
Bitonti Named Brewers Minor League Player of the Month
ZEBULON, N.C - The Milwaukee Brewers announced Monday that Carolina Mudcats infielder Eric Bitonti has been named the organizations Minor League Player of the Month for August. Bitonti is coming off a month in which he posted a slash line of .207/.286/.494 with seven home runs and four doubles while
Mudcats Announce 2025 Season Schedule
ZEBULON, N.C. – The Carolina Mudcats, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, today announced their 2025 regular-season schedule beginning on Friday, April 4 with the season opener at Five County Stadium against the Fredericksburg Nationals. Download a PDF version of the schedule here. Key home dates include Independence Day Week
Castillo Named Carolina League Player Of The Month
ZEBULON, N.C - Just a week after being named the Carolina League Player of the Week, Carolina Mudcats outfielder, Luis Castillo, was named the Carolina League Player of the Month for July as announced on Tuesday morning. Castillo is coming off a month in which he posted a slash line
Castillo Named Carolina League Player Of The Week
ZEBULON, N.C. – The Carolina League announced Monday that Carolina Mudcats outfielder Luis Castillo has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week. Castillo is coming off a series at Salem in which he hit .556 with four home runs and collected 16 RBI while posting a 1.933 OPS.
Mudcats Pratt Named to MLB Futures Game
ZEBULON, N.C. – Carolina Mudcats infielder Cooper Pratt was named to the National League squad for the 2024 MLB Futures Game. The game will be played on Saturday, July 13 as part of MLB’s All-Star event held this year at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. “I’m just super excited
Mudcats Soar Past Columbia
ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats scored a season-high 16 runs and recorded a season-best 21 hits as they won their third straight game over the Columbia Fireflies by a 16-2 score on Thursday night at Five County Stadium. Columbia (12-11) tied the game at one in the top of
Walk-Off Hit Lifts Mudcats Past Fireflies
ZEBULON, N.C. - Juan Baez singled past a drawn in infield allowing Cooper Pratt to score to lift the Carolina Mudcats to a 2-1 victory in 12 innings over the Columbia Fireflies at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night. Columbia (12-10) had a chance to win the game in the
Mudcats Claim Opener from Fireflies
ZEBULON, NC - The Carolina Mudcats collected 11 hits as they captured the series lidlifter from the Columbia Fireflies 8-3 on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. Carolina (16-6) jumped out early as Daniel Guilarte tripled to open the bottom of the first and scored one batter later
Guilarte, Garcia Homer As Mudcats Snap Losing Streak in Series Finale
Carolina Mudcats 4 - Salem Red Sox 3 Box Score ZEBULON, NC – The Carolina Mudcats (15-6) got two big swings from Daniel Guilarte and Yhoswar Garcia and a terrific relief appearance from Josh Timmerman Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium that helped secure a 4-3 win over the Salem
Mudcats Drop Third Straight to Red Sox
Salem Red Sox 4 - Carolina Mudcats 2 Box Score ZEBULON, NC – The Carolina Mudcats (14-6) could not hang onto a one-run lead late Saturday night at Five County Stadium as the Salem Red Sox (9-11) rallied to win 4-2 and claim their third straight victory. The loss guarantees
Garcia Records Three Hits in Mudcats Defeat to Salem
Salem Red Sox 3 - Carolina Mudcats 1 Box Score ZEBULON, NC – Another strong pitching performance from the Salem Red Sox (8-11) was too much to overcome for the Carolina Mudcats (14-5), who fell to the Red Sox 3-1 Friday night at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats have dropped
Mudcats Fall at Home To Salem
Salem Red Sox 3 - Carolina Mudcats 1 Box Score ZEBULON, NC – A comeback wasn't in the cards Thursday night at Five County Stadium as the Carolina Mudcats (14-4) fell to the Salem Red Sox (7-11) by a final score of 3-1. The loss was just the second home
Mudcats Come Back Again Late to Stun Red Sox
Carolina Mudcats 4 - Salem Red Sox 3 Box Score ZEBULON, NC – The Carolina Mudcats (14-3) once again trailed by a pair of runs in the late stages Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium but once again prevailed in a 4-3 comeback win over the Salem Red Sox (6-11).
Seventh-Inning Rally Gives Mudcats Thrilling Win in Series Opener
Carolina Mudcats 4 - Salem Red Sox 2 Box Score ZEBULON, NC – The Carolina Mudcats (13-3) found themselves needing another comeback on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium and once again, their offense delivered late. Trailing 2-0, the Mudcats scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to
Carolina Drops Rain-Shortened Series Finale in Augusta
Augusta GreenJackets 3 – Carolina Mudcats 1 (F/6) Box Score NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – The Carolina Mudcats (12-3) would not have enough time to try and pull out another comeback Sunday afternoon at SRP Park as the Augusta GreenJackets (7-8) took home a 3-1 win after the game was called
Mudcats Complete Another Comeback, Win Fourth Straight
Carolina Mudcats 9 – Augusta GreenJackets 7 Box Score NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – Once again, the Carolina Mudcats (12-2) weathered the storm early and exploded offensively late Saturday night at SRP Park as the Mudcats took down the Augusta GreenJackets (6-8) by a 9-7 final score. Carolina has won four
Rodriguez Go-Ahead Grand Slam in Ninth Powers Mudcats to Thrilling Win
Carolina Mudcats 5 – Augusta GreenJackets 3 Box Score NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – In a game where the Carolina Mudcats (11-2) struggled for offense all night long Friday night at SRP Park, all it took was one swing from Yophery Rodriguez to change things. The 18-year-old drove a breaking ball
Mudcats Squash Augusta Rally to Take Series Lead
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – The Carolina Mudcats (10-2) lost an early three-run lead Thursday night at SRP Park, but a late surge in the eighth coupled with clutch pitching was enough to push them past the Augusta GreenJackets (6-6) for a 4-3 victory. With the win, Carolina has now stretched
Nicasia Homers Again as Mudcats Even Series
Carolina Mudcats 7 – Augusta GreenJackets 3 Box Score NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – Another big swing from Carolina Mudcats (9-2) outfielder Kay-Lan Nicasia proved to be the catalyst Wednesday night at SRP Park as the Mudcats came from behind to take down the Augusta GreenJackets (6-5), 7-3. Carolina evens the