Mudcats Sweep Pelicans in Thursday’s Doubleheader

ZEBULON – Pitching led the way as the Carolina Mudcats swept Thursday’s doubleheader with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 3-2 in game 1, and 2-1 in game 2 at Five County Stadium. Stiven Cruz struck out six while earning his first victory in game 1 and Edwin Jimenez pitched through five scoreless while earning his first win in game 2. Jackson Chourio and Jeferson Quero led the way offensively with Chourio going 3-for-3 with a home run in game 2 and Quero collecting two hits and two runs across both games.

The Mudcats (30-24) took both games of Thursday’s doubleheader with the Pelicans (37-17) and moved into a 2-1 series lead against the Carolina League South leading Pelicans. Carolina also took over sole possession of first in the Carolina League North standings as they now own a 1.0 game lead on the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Stiven Cruz earned his first win of the of the season after totaling six strikeouts and working around an Ezequiel Pagan home run in the third while leading the Mudcats to the 3-2 game 1 victory. Cruz (1-1) scattered four hits and walked one while allowing just two Myrtle Beach runs in the doubleheader opening victory.

Relievers Brannon Jordan and Karlos Morales finished game 1 with a scoreless sixth and seventh respectively. Jordan struck out two in the sixth while earning his first hold. Morales (S, 2) faced five batters and left two men on in the seventh while earning his second save.

The scoring started early for the Mudcats in their game 1 victory as Chourio reached on an error and scored on a run-scoring hit from Quero. Hedbert Perez then followed with a single to right to force in Quero as the Mudcats took the early 2-0 lead. Jose Sibrian then lifted Carolina to a 3-0 lead in the second after reaching on a ground rule double before scoring on a balk later in the frame.

The Mudcats led 3-0 in game 1 before Pagan connected on his home run off Cruz in the third. That home run cut the lead to 3-2, but Cruz and the Carolina bullpen would hold the lead as the Mudcats picked up the doubleheader opening victory.

Game 2 then saw another gem turned in by the Carolina pitching staff with Edwin Jimenez earning the win and Israel Puello getting the save. Jimenez (1-1) struck out three, forced seven groundouts (including a double-play), and scattered two hits while earning the win and pitching through five scoreless innings. Puello (S, 1) then worked the final two innings while earning his first save. He also struck out three, walked two, allowed a run, and left two men on base in the final inning to end the game.

Chourio led the way offensively in game 2 while going 3-for-3 with a single in the first, a go-ahead solo home run in the fourth and a triple in the sixth. His fourth inning homer was later followed by a run from Quero as the Mudcats went up 2-0. The Pelicans later rallied for a run in the seventh, but Carolina held on for the twin-bill sweep clinching victory.

Myrtle Beach 2 @ Carolina 3 (GM:1)

June 09, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 5:03 PM | - | T : 1:44

MB: 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 2

CAR: 2 1 0 0 0 0 x 0 0 3 6 0

WP: Stiven Cruz (1 - 1) LP: Luke Little (1 - 2) SV: Karlos Morales (2)

HOME RUNS:

Myrtle Beach: Pagan (5, 3rd inning off Cruz, 1 on, 2 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

Mendez, RF (Carolina): 2-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

Pagan, LF (Myrtle Beach): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Alcantara, CF (Myrtle Beach): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Cruz (W, 1-1) (Carolina): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO

Jordan (H, 1) (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Morales (S, 2) (Carolina): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Little (L, 1-2) (Myrtle Beach): 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Santana, T (Myrtle Beach): 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 1st (Mudcats 2, Pelicans 0) -- Eduardo Garcia struck out looking. Jackson Chourio reaches on fielding error by Reginald Preciado, Jackson Chourio to 2nd. Jeferson Quero singles through the hole at second base, Jackson Chourio scores. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging. Hedbert Perez singles through the hole at second base, Jeferson Quero scores; Hedbert Perez advances to 2nd on fielding error by Jacob Wetzel. Wild pitch by Luke Little, Hedbert Perez to 3rd. Hendry Mendez grounds out, Luke Little to BJ Murray Jr.

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

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 3, Pelicans 0) -- Jose Sibrian hits a ground rule double to right field. Jheremy Vargas flies out to Jacob Wetzel. Zack Raabe walks, Jose Sibrian to 3rd;wild pitch by Luke Little. Jose Sibrian scores on a balk; Zack Raabe advances to 2nd on a balk. Eduardo Garcia grounds out, Juan Mora to BJ Murray Jr., Zack Raabe to 3rd. Jackson Chourio strikes out swinging.

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

Pelicans 3rd (Mudcats 3, Pelicans 2) -- Ethan Hearn struck out looking. Kevin Alcantara doubles to left-center field. James Triantos grounds out, Jheremy Vargas to Jesus Chirinos. Ezequiel Pagan hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Kevin Alcantara scores. Kevin Made flies out to Hendry Mendez.

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

Myrtle Beach 1 @ Carolina 2 (GM:2)

June 09, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:34 PM | Att : 1,820 | T : 1:36

MB: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 1

CAR: 0 0 0 2 0 0 x 0 0 2 6 1

WP: Edwin Jimenez (1 - 1) LP: Richard Gallardo (4 - 4) SV: Israel Puello (1)

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: HR : Chourio (5, 4th inning off Gallardo, 0 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

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

Alcantara, CF (Myrtle Beach): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Mora, J, 2B (Myrtle Beach): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Stevens, 1B (Myrtle Beach): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Jimenez (W, 1-1) (Carolina): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Puello (S, 1) (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

Gallardo (L, 4-4) (Myrtle Beach): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Scalzo Jr. (Myrtle Beach): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 2, Pelicans 0) -- Eduardo Garcia grounds out, BJ Murray Jr. to Felix Stevens. Jackson Chourio hits a home run down the right-field line on a 1-1 pitch. Jeferson Quero walks. Jeferson Quero steals 2nd base. Wild pitch by Richard Gallardo, Jeferson Quero to 3rd. Hedbert Perez flies out to Ezequiel Pagan, Jeferson Quero scores; throwing error by Ezequiel Pagan. Jesus Chirinos singles up the middle. Oswal Leones grounds into a force out, fielded by Kevin Made, Jesus Chirinos out at 2nd.

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

Pelicans 7th (Mudcats 2, Pelicans 1) -- James Triantos walks. Ezequiel Pagan out on a sacrifice bunt, Israel Puello to Jesus Chirinos, James Triantos to 2nd. Kevin Made strikes out swinging. James Triantos advances to 3rd on a balk. BJ Murray Jr. walks. Juan Mora singles to center field, James Triantos scores; BJ Murray Jr. to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jacob Wetzel replaces BJ Murray Jr. Felix Stevens flies out to Oswal Leones.

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