Mudcats Drop Third Straight 10-3 in Myrtle Beach

Carolina 3 @ Myrtle Beach 10
September 09, 2022 | Venue : Pelicans Ballpark | First pitch : 7:09 PM | Att : 3,294 | T : 2:39
CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 12 0
MB: 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 x 10 14 1
WP: Didier Vargas (2 - 2) LP: Alexander Vallecillo (1 - 3)

MYRTLE BEACH – Jace Avina went 2-for-5 with a two-run single in the ninth and Robert Moore had a RBI single in the sixth, but the Carolina Mudcats ended up on the wrong side of a lopsided 10-3 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach.

The Mudcats (33-30, 67-62) totaled 12 hits, but scored just three runs while losing their third straight game. The Pelicans (31-32, 78-51) slightly outhit the Mudcats with 14 hits in the game, but also scored 10 runs while taking a 3-0 lead in the five-game set. Starter Didier Vargas picked up the win after holding Carolina scoreless over five full innings. Vargas (2-2) did not issue a walk and struck out eight.

The Pelicans scored at least one run in each of the first five innings while building a 9-0 lead before the sixth. They had also built a 6-0 over the first two innings with three-run home runs from Hayden McGeary and Juan Mora in the first and second respectively.

Both early homers were hit off starter Alexander Vallecillo and were just two of six hits allowed by the Carolina starter. In all, Vallecillo (1-3) allowed seven runs on six hits, while also walking two and striking out two over two and 2/3 innings.

Reliever Jeison Pena followed Vallecillo and went on to allow just one run over an inning and 1/3 while pitching the rest of the third and all of the fourth. Carolina then turned things over to Yujanyer Herrera who pitched through four innings with two runs, six hits, a walk and a strikeout. Herrera also gave up a solo home run to Ezequiel Pagan to start the Myrtle Beach eighth.

Carolina later rallied for two, two-out runs with four two-out hits, but would go on to leave the bases loaded while losing their third straight to the Pelicans 10-3. Jose Sibrian, Jheremy Vargas, Avina, and Eric Brown Jr. each had hits in the final frame, with Avina’s hit being a two-run single.

HOME RUNS:
Myrtle Beach: McGeary (1, 1st inning off Vallecillo, 2 on, 1 out); Mora, J (7, 2nd inning off Vallecillo, 2 on, 1 out); Pagan (11, 8th inning off Herrera, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Avina, CF (Carolina): 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Brown Jr., SS (Carolina): 2-for-5
Fernandez, RF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Moore, 2B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Mora, J, 2B (Myrtle Beach): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
McGeary, DH (Myrtle Beach): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Huma, SS (Myrtle Beach): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI
Pagan, LF (Myrtle Beach): 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Pena, Je (Carolina): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Herrera (Carolina): 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Vargas (W, 2-2) (Myrtle Beach): 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Scalzo Jr. (Myrtle Beach): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

SCORING:
Pelicans 1st (Pelicans 3, Mudcats 0) -- Josue Huma singles to right-center field. Juan Mora doubles down the left-field line, Josue Huma to 3rd. Ezequiel Pagan flies out to Eduarqui Fernandez. Haydn McGeary hits a home run to left-center field on a 0-1 pitch, Josue Huma scores; Juan Mora scores. Jacob Wetzel walks. James Triantos pops out to Eric Brown Jr. Moises Ballesteros flies out to Jace Avina.
(3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Pelicans 2nd (Pelicans 6, Mudcats 0) -- Parker Chavers grounds out, Eric Brown Jr. to Jesus Chirinos. Liam Spence walks. Josue Huma singles to right field, Liam Spence to 3rd. Juan Mora hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch, Liam Spence scores; Josue Huma scores. Ezequiel Pagan strikes out swinging. Haydn McGeary lines out to Jace Avina.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Pelicans 3rd (Pelicans 7, Mudcats 0) -- Jacob Wetzel walks. James Triantos singles to left field, Jacob Wetzel to 2nd. Moises Ballesteros flies out to Eduarqui Fernandez, Jacob Wetzel to 3rd. Parker Chavers reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Robert Moore, Jacob Wetzel scores; James Triantos to 2nd. Liam Spence struck out looking. Pitcher Change: Jeison Pena replaces Alexander Vallecillo. Josue Huma struck out looking.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Pelicans 4th (Pelicans 8, Mudcats 0) -- Juan Mora lines out to Hedbert Perez. Ezequiel Pagan doubles to left-center field. Haydn McGeary walks. Jacob Wetzel walks, Ezequiel Pagan to 3rd; Haydn McGeary to 2nd. James Triantos singles to left field, Ezequiel Pagan scores; Haydn McGeary to 3rd; Jacob Wetzel to 2nd. Moises Ballesteros struck out looking. Parker Chavers grounds into a force out, fielded by Eric Brown Jr., James Triantos out at 2nd.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Pelicans 5th (Pelicans 9, Mudcats 0) -- Pitcher Change: Yujanyer Herrera replaces Jeison Pena. Liam Spence singles to right field. Wild pitch by Yujanyer Herrera, Liam Spence to 2nd. Josue Huma singles to right-center field, Liam Spence scores. Juan Mora singles to deep shortstop, Josue Huma to 2nd. Ezequiel Pagan grounds into double play, Robert Moore to Eric Brown Jr. to Jesus Chirinos, Josue Huma to 3rd; Juan Mora out at 2nd, Ezequiel Pagan out at 1st. Haydn McGeary grounds out, Robert Moore to Jesus Chirinos.
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Pelicans 9, Mudcats 1) -- Pitcher Change: Frankie Scalzo Jr. replaces Didier Vargas. Eduarqui Fernandez doubles to left field. Jesus Chirinos grounds out, Juan Mora to Liam Spence, Eduarqui Fernandez to 3rd. Robert Moore singles to right-center field, Eduarqui Fernandez scores. Hendry Mendez strikes out swinging. Hedbert Perez flies out to Ezequiel Pagan.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Pelicans 8th (Pelicans 10, Mudcats 1) -- Ezequiel Pagan hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch. Haydn McGeary strikes out swinging. Jacob Wetzel singles to shallow left field. James Triantos grounds out, Eric Brown Jr. to Jesus Chirinos, Jacob Wetzel to 2nd. Moises Ballesteros flies out to Jace Avina.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 9th (Pelicans 10, Mudcats 3) -- Hendry Mendez strikes out swinging. Hedbert Perez flies out to Ezequiel Pagan. Jose Sibrian singles to shallow left field. Jheremy Vargas doubles down the left-field line, Jose Sibrian to 3rd. Jace Avina singles to center field, Jose Sibrian scores; Jheremy Vargas scores. Eric Brown Jr. singles through the hole at shortstop, Jace Avina to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Angel Gonzalez replaces Chase Watkins. Eduarqui Fernandez walks, Jace Avina to 3rd; Eric Brown Jr. to 2nd. Jesus Chirinos grounds out, Josue Huma to Liam Spence.
(2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)