Mudcats Blanked by Ramirez and Woodpeckers in 11-0 Series Finale Loss

FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Mudcats were held to just one hit and combined to strike out 16 times in an 11-0 loss to the Woodpeckers on Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville at Segra Stadium. Fayetteville starter Yohan Ramirez turned in a dominating 11 strikeout performance as his club salvaged a win in the series finale.

The Mudcats (26-17) were held to just one hit in the loss as Ramirez (W, 1-2, 2.52) carved his way through the Carolina lineup in Sunday's matinée in Fayetteville. He ended up totaling 11 strikeouts against just one walk and one hit over six and 2/3 innings for the Woodpeckers (20-23) while earning his first victory of the season. He faced 23 batters in all and pitched into the seventh before reaching 87 pitches (55 strikes) and leaving the game.
Reliever Hunter Martin pitched the final two and 1/3 innings for Fayetteville and held Carolina without a hit while totaling five strikeouts. Martin and Rogers combined for 16 strikeouts versus the Carolina offense; one short of match a season high for strikeouts by an opponent.
Wes Rogers had Carolina's only hit of the game as he reached on a single to left-center to start the third. He was, however, taken off the bags moments later on a double play grounded into by Nick Roscetti. The Mudcats also managed to get two men on in the fourth after Ramirez hit two batters, but neither were able to score and Carolina left two men on in the inning.
Matt Smith started for Carolina and originally worked through two scoreless frames before allowing two home runs in the Fayetteville third. Miguelangel Sierra started the third with a solo home run to left and Jake Adams followed a few batters later with a two-run blast of his own.
The Woodpeckers scored three runs and totaled five hits in the third versus Smith (L, 1-4, 4.13) and ended up knocking him out of the game. In all, Smith allowed three runs on seven hits (two home runs) and struck out two in the loss.
Relievers J.T. Hintzen, Christian Taugner, Chris Dula and Clayton Andrews pitched the remainder of the game for the Mudcats. Hintzen worked a scoreless fourth and struck out one while facing three. Taugner allowed a two-run double to Scott Manea in the fifth, but allowed just the two runs on three hits over three innings pitched.
Fayetteville had a 5-0 lead in the game before breaking out with six more runs in the eighth against Dula and Andrews. Dula ended up allowing all six Fayetteville runs in the eighth on just three hits, one walk and two hit batters. 
In all, the eighth began with Dula hitting Manea with a pitch, walking Scott Schreiber, uncorking a wild pitch and then allowing a run scoring single to Michael Papierski. Dula then plunked Sierra, got Jacob Meyers to fly out behind the plate, but then allowed a two-run double to Jonathan Arauz. Corey Julks then singled to bring in one more Woodpeckers run and knock Dula out of the game. Andrews followed and saw his two inherited runners score on a wild pitch and a run scoring hit before finishing the final Fayetteville frame.
Arauz (3-for-5, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Shaver (3-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Manea (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) each had three hits in the game for Fayetteville. Julks scored twice while going 2-for-5 and both Sierra (1-for-2, 2 R, HR, RBI) and Adams (1-for-5, R, HR, RBI) homered in the game.
The loss came in the series finale of the three game set and after Carolina had taken the first two to win the series outright. It also came in the final game of a seven game road trip for Carolina. Despite Sunday's loss, Carolina finished the seven game trip at 4-3 with two wins in Lynchburg and two in Fayetteville.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats next play on Monday night at Five County Stadium as they start up a new eight-game home stand featuring four games versus Lynchburg and four games versus Down East. Monday's game will feature Carolina's B.O.G.O. Monday promotion which includes buy one box seat ticket and get one free ($10.00 value). The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
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