Mudcats Drop Series Opener 4-2 in Lynchburg

Carolina 2 @ Lynchburg 4

May 31, 2022 | Venue : Bank of the James Stadium | First pitch : 6:31 PM | Att : 1,002 | T : 2:19

CAR: 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 0

WP: Yeury Gervacio (4 - 0) LP: Alexander Cornielle (2 - 5) SV: Elvis Jerez (4)LYN: 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 x 4 6 0

LYNCHBURG – Arbert Cipion went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Jheremy Vargas went 2-for-3 with two runs and a double, but the first place Carolina Mudcats lost a one-run lead in the sixth while falling to the second place Lynchburg Hillcats 4-2 in the first game of a six-game series at Bank of James Stadium in Lynchburg on Tuesday night.

Despite the loss, the Mudcats (26-20) remained in first by a half game over the Hillcats (25-20) in the Carolina League North standings. The victory lifted the Hillcats to a 7-2 record versus the Mudcats this season and gave them a 1-0 lead in the current series.

Lynchburg led first after Milan Tolentino brought in Jake Fox with a sacrifice fly in the first off starter Carlos Rodriguez. That run, however, would be all that Rodriguez allowed in his start as he worked through the fourth with just one run and two hits allowed.

Carolina eventually tied the game with a run in the third and later took a one-run lead in the sixth with their ninth spot hitter, Vargas, and their leadoff man, Cipion, worked together for both Carolina runs. Vargas doubled and scored on a Cipion single in the third to tie the game. The sixth then saw Vargas single and score the go-ahead run on another RBI single from Cipion.

Carolina’s 2-1 lead disappeared in the sixth after reliever Alexander Cornielle walked in a run. The game was then locked at 2-2 through the seventh before the Hillcats broke through with two runs on three straight two-out hits from Victor Planchart, Dayan Frias and Richard Paz in the eighth. Frias’ hit was a triple that scored Planchart and forced Cornielle out of the game. Paz’s hit came off Karlos Morales to bring in Frias to put the Hillcats up 4-2.

Cornielle (2-5) took the loss after walking in the tying run in the sixth and later allowing the two Lynchburg runs in the eighth. Cornielle walked five, struck out six and allowed three runs and three hits overall in the loss.

The series continues Wednesday night at Bank of James Stadium with right-hander Jeferson Figueroa starting for the Mudcats.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Cipion, LF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Vargas, 2B (Carolina): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Planchart, 1B (Lynchburg): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Frias, 2B (Lynchburg): 1-for-2, 1 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Paz, C (Lynchburg): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Fox, SS (Lynchburg): 1-for-3, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Burgos, J, CF (Lynchburg): 2-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Rodriguez (Carolina): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Morales (Carolina): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Leftwich (Lynchburg): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO

Zapata (Lynchburg): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Gervacio (W, 4-0) (Lynchburg): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Jerez (S, 4) (Lynchburg): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Hillcats 1st (Hillcats 1, Mudcats 0) -- Isaiah Greene grounds out to Jesus Chirinos. Jake Fox singles to deep shortstop. Jorge Burgos singles to right field, Jake Fox to 3rd. Milan Tolentino out on a sacrifice fly to Jackson Chourio, Jake Fox scores. Victor Planchart grounds out to Jesus Chirinos.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 1, Hillcats 1) -- Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging. Alberis Ferrer strikes out swinging. Jheremy Vargas doubles to left field. Arbert Cipion singles through the hole at second base, Jheremy Vargas scores. Arbert Cipion caught stealing 2nd base, Richard Paz to Dayan Frias.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 2, Hillcats 1) -- Pitcher Change: Juan Zapata replaces Jack Leftwich. Jheremy Vargas singles to left-center field. Jheremy Vargas advances to 2nd on a balk. Arbert Cipion singles through the hole at second base, Jheremy Vargas scores. Wild pitch by Juan Zapata, Arbert Cipion to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia grounds out, Milan Tolentino to Victor Planchart. Arbert Cipion caught stealing 3rd base, Richard Paz to Milan Tolentino. Jackson Chourio strikes out swinging.

(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Hillcats 6th (Mudcats 2, Hillcats 2) -- Jake Fox walks. Jorge Burgos singles to right-center field, Jake Fox to 2nd. Jake Fox steals 3rd base, Jorge Burgos steals 2nd base. Milan Tolentino walks. Defensive Substitution: Luis Silva replaces third baseman Alberis Ferrer, batting 8th, playing 3rd. Victor Planchart strikes out swinging. Dayan Frias walks, Jake Fox scores; Jorge Burgos to 3rd; Milan Tolentino to 2nd. Richard Paz strikes out swinging. Jeferson Quero picks off Jorge Burgos at on throw to Luis Silva.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Hillcats 8th (Hillcats 4, Mudcats 2) -- Jorge Burgos strikes out swinging. Milan Tolentino strikes out swinging. Victor Planchart singles to right-center field. Dayan Frias triples to right field, Victor Planchart scores. Pitcher Change: Karlos Morales replaces Alexander Cornielle. Richard Paz singles to right-center field, Dayan Frias scores. Skeiling Rodriguez strikes out swinging.

(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)