Mudcats Drop Finale with Lynchburg 5-2 while Finishing with Series Split

ZEBULON, NC - Pat McInerney hit a solo home run during a four hit and two run ninth, but Carolina left two men on in the final frame while coming up short in a 5-2 series finale loss to the Hillcats on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.

Nelson Hernandez started for the Mudcats (28-19) and allowed all six Lynchburg (23-22) runs while taking the loss. Hernandez (L, 5-2, 5.13) allowed just four hits in the loss, but gave up a first inning two-run home run to Nolan Jones and a solo homer to Oscar Gonzalez in the sixth before leaving the game.
Jones went 1-for-4 in the game with what was his second home run of the season. It was also his second home run of the series as his first came in the series opener a few days earlier. Gonzalez also went 1-for-4 with a home run and finished the four game set 6-for-13 with three home runs and four RBI.
The Jones home run in the first put the Hillcats up 2-0, but Hernandez went on to hold the Hillcats scoreless through the next three frames before seeing two unearned runs come across in the fifth. Those two runs scored on a dropped fly ball in left by Joantgel Segovia. The pop up was hit by Wilbis Santiago and scored Mike Rivera and Mike Wakamatsu from first and second respectively. Gonzalez then added to the lead with his homer in the sixth as Lynchburg led 6-0 after six.
Hernandez left the game after the sixth and finished with five runs (three earned) allowed on four hits. He also walked two and struck out three while suffering his second loss of the season; both versus Lynchburg.
Carolina's offense was held in check through the eighth as starter Matt Solter pitched through five and 2/3 scoreless frames before giving way to relievers Robert Broom, Anthony Gose and Jared Robinson. 
Solter (W, 3-0, 1.02) struck out five, walked two and scattered five hits while pitching into the sixth without allowing a run. He also reached 91 pitches (54 strikes) before leaving in the sixth with two outs in the inning.
Broom then followed and worked through an inning and 1/3 perfect frames as he struck out four while facing just four batters. Gose pitched a scoreless eighth and struck out one while facing three batters. 
Robinson then worked the ninth and allowed McInerney's home run and three other hits in the inning. He also gave up a sacrifice fly to Wes Rogers, but eventually finished the game while leaving two men on base.
Relievers Matt Hardy and Cody Beckman pitched the final three innings for the Mudcats and combined on three scoreless frames to finish the game. Hardy retired six straight after entering in the seventh. He struck out two as well before Beckman took over for the ninth. Beckman allowed a hit and walked one, but struck out one as well while working through a scoreless final frame for the Mudcats.
Carolina ended up going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the game and left 10 men on base. The Hillcats won the game while going just 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and leaving three men on.
Despite the loss, Carolina remained 3.5 games back of first as the Southern Division leading Down East Wood Ducks also lost on Thursday night. The Mudcats will play the Wood Ducks on Friday night in game one of a four game set at Five County Stadium. 
Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will feature the Mudcats playing as Pescados de Carolina for the first time this season. Friday's game will also include a souvenir bobble head giveaway presented by O'Reilly Auto Part and post-game fire works presented by House Autry. The Pescados de Carolina night is presented by Dental Center at Zebulon. 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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