Mudcats Complete Series Win with 6-3 Victory

ZEBULON, N.C. - Ronnie Gideon hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth, Rob Henry added to the lead with a home run in the seventh and Conor Harber worked through two and 2/3 scoreless frames while earning the win as the Mudcats defeated Wilmington 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

After two scoreless innings to start, the Mudcats (18-19) eventually got going in the third and put three runs on the board while taking a 3-0 lead in Sunday's game. The Blue Rocks (15-21), however, rallied back for three in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. 
Tweet from @CarolinaMudcats: Ronnie wrecked this one the other way for a 4-3 lead in the sixth.WATCH: pic.twitter.com/c0vcv4e0uk
Gideon then broke the tie with his third home run of the season and sparked what ended up being a two run frame as Carolina went up 5-3. Henry then capped his club's scoring with his first home run of the season in the seventh, giving Carolina a 6-3 lead. Gideon finished the game going 1-for-4 with a home run, a run and a RBI. Henry tallied his first multi-hit game and his first home run while going 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI.
Tweet from @CarolinaMudcats: When you hit your first Carolina League homer, you celebrate accordingly.@RobHenry_ #BrewersWeekend #MudcatsFUN pic.twitter.com/NjytZOqo8m
Dallas Carroll collected a game high three hits for Carolina after going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Carroll's first hit was a two-run single in the third that gave Carolina a 2-0 lead. He also scored in the third when Tucker Neuhaus came through with a RBI single to center.
Carolina's early three run rally came against Blue Rocks starter Cristian Castillo and were the first of five runs (four earned) allowed by Castillo (1-5, 7.45) in his outing. He allowed three runs in the third and then two runs in the sixth after giving up Gideon's home run and a run scoring double to Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. Castillo struck out seven and did not walk a batter in the loss.
All three Wilmington runs were driven in by third baseman Emmanuel Rivera after he clubbed a three-run home run off Carolina starter Braden Webb in the sixth. Webb left after giving up Rivera's home run and finished his longest start of the season with three runs allowed on five hits over five and 1/3 innings pitched. He also walked one and struck out four while reaching 77 pitches (48 strikes).
Harber (1-1, 1.57) followed Webb and took over after Rivera's three run blast. He went on to work through the next two and 2/3 innings (through the eighth) without allowing a hit or a run and ended up earning his first win of the season. Harber also finished with one strikeout and did not issue a walk for the first time in an appearance this season. Reliever Alec Crawford (S, 1) finished the game out of the Carolina bullpen and earned his second consecutive save while working a scoreless ninth.
The home win capped a series win for the Mudcats as they took three of four in the set from the Blue Rocks. Sunday's game was also the final meeting between the Mudcats and Blue Rocks during the 2018 regular season. Carolina also won the season series five games to two.
The Mudcats are off on Monday, May 14 and next play on Tuesday, May 15 in Kinston against the Down East Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. 
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