Mudcats Complete Sweep in Potomac in Shutout Fashion
WOODBRIDGE, VA - Payton Henry had a run scoring double in the first, Joantgel Segovia homered in the eighth and Bowden Francis, Christian Meister, J.T. Hintzen and Rodrigo Benoit combined on a four hit shutout as the Mudcats completed a three game sweep of the Potomac Nationals with a 2-0
WOODBRIDGE, VA -
The three-game sweep came at the end of Carolina's season opening road trip and lifted Carolina to a 5-2 record to start the season. The sweep also included back-to-back shutout wins as Carolina took game two of Tuesday's doubleheader 6-0 versus the Nationals (3-4) and Wednesday's game 2-0.
The Mudcats scored once in the first and once more the eighth and totaled just five hits in Wednesday's finale victory. Henry had their first hit of the game in the first while ripping a two-out run scoring double of P-Nats starter
Johnston (0-2, 5.40) settled in nicely after the first and went on to allow just one other hit while pitching through six full innings in the game. Johnston also struck out five and walked two while taking the loss.
The Mudcats scored their second and final run in the game in the eighth after Segovia connected on his second home run of the season and his second in as many games. Segovia's solo blast to start the eighth came off reliever
Segovia went 1-for-4 with a home run and a RBI in the game for the Mudcats. Henry went 1-for-4 with a RBI double, Aguilar was 1-for-3 with a run and a double and both
The 1-0 Carolina first inning lead ended up being enough for the Mudcats as Francis (1-0, 2.00) made his way through five scoreless frames with three walks and five strikeouts. He walked a couple in the first, but worked out of the inning while stranding two in the opening frame. He also left two men on in the fifth and left the game after reaching 80 pitches (54 strikes).
The Carolina bullpen was up to the task as well as Meister (H, 1), Hintzen (H, 1)and Benoit (S, 2) combined to pitch the final two and 2/3 innings while holding the P-Nats scoreless. Meister walked one and faced four while pitching the sixth. Hintzen struck out three and walked one over an inning and 2/3. Benoit pitched the end of the eighth and left the bases loaded before pitching the ninth and finishing with his second save of the season.
Carolina held the Nationals to 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the game. The Carolina pitchers also combined to strand 12 men on base while pitching their way to the sweep clinching victory.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats next play the Wilmington Blue Rocks (5-2) at Five County Stadium on Thursday night in what will be Carolina's first home game of the 2019 season. Opening Night 2019 will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will feature RHP
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