Mudcats Open Final Home Stand with 3-2 Win
ZEBULON, N.C. - Christian Taugner stuck out seven over five solid innings and Demi Orimoloye went 2-for-4 with a run as the Mudcats defeated the Wood Ducks 3-2 in the series opener of a four game series at Five County Stadium on Monday night.
ZEBULON, N.C. -
Taugner (2-1, 5.03) led Carolina (61-70, 27-34) to the series opening win after limiting the visiting Wood Ducks (58-75, 23-40) to just one unearned run on five hits over five innings pitched. Taugner also totaled seven strikeouts, including two to start the first and three straight to escape a jam in the fourth.
The Mudcats spotted him an early lead to work with after collecting two, two-out runs in the first off Down East starter
The Woodies eventually rallied for an unearned run in the third when
Mendez (2-3, 3.81) allowed the lone Carolina run in the fifth and took the loss after going through four and 1/3 with three runs (two earned) allowed on five hits. He also walked four and struck out two. He was followed by relievers
Lemoine stranded two inherited runners in the fifth and worked through two and 2/3 scoreless frames overall for Down East. Lemoine also totaled six strikeouts and three walks in his appearance. Beras worked the eighth and struck out one while facing only three batters.
The Mudcats had a 3-1 lead through the sixth, the Wood Ducks rallied for a run against relievers
Beckman originally entered the game in the sixth where he worked through a scoreless frame in place of Taugner. Down East's
Benoit's wild pitch plated the final Down East run in Carolina's 3-2 home win as the Wood Ducks were later held scoreless in the eighth and ninth. Benoit stayed in for the eighth and ended up totaling four strikeouts over an inning and 1/3.
NOTES: Cooper Hummel went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a RBI while maintaining his Carolina League leading on-base percentage at .387 for the season... Demi Orimoloye went 2-for-4 with a run and has hit safely in seven straight games... Carolina's offense struck out 7 times, bringing their season strikeout total to a Carolina League high 1,239. The Mudcats are just six (6) strikeouts away from matching the Carolina League record for most total strikeouts in a season (1,245). The record was set last season by the 2017 Carolina Mudcats.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats will continue their final home stand with game two of four versus the Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. Tuesday's game will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is Carolina's final Taco Tuesday night of the season. Tickets are available by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream live via video on MiLB.tv.
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