Mudcats Swept in Thursday Twin-Bill in Kinston

KINSTON, N.C. - JP Martinez of the Wood Ducks hit a game tying home run with two outs in the seventh to force extras and Sam Huff broke that tie with a walk-off single in the eighth for a 3-2 game one victory and starting pitcher Tim Brennan tossed a complete-game shutout as the Wood Ducks also took the second game of Thursday's doubleheader 1-0 in Kinston while finishing a doubleheader and series sweep of the Mudcats.

The Mudcats (16-19, 55-49) were leading 2-1 heading into the final frame in game one of Thursday's doubleheader, but the Wood Ducks (21-13, 71-33) went on to tie the game on a two-out, solo home run from Martinez while locking the game at 2-2. They then won 3-2 on a walk-off single from pinch hitter Sam Huff in the eighth while taking game one of the twin-bill and clinching a series victory.
Down East then took game two behind a fourth inning solo home run from Josh Altmann and a complete-game shutout performance by starter Tim Brennan. Brennan (W, 3-0, 1.50) totaled three strikeouts, walked one and scattered three hits while completing his seven-inning shutout versus the Mudcats.
Despite dropping both games of the doubleheader, Carolina did receive solid pitching performances from starters Noah Zavolas and Nelson Hernandez in game one and two respectively.
Zavolas started game one and was an out shy of finishing a complete game victory before allowing Martinez's game tying home run with two outs in the seventh. He left the game after allowing the Martinez homer and after reaching 98 pitches (62 strikes) in his start. In all, Zavolas struck out three, walked one and allowed two runs on five hits over six and 2/3 innings pitched. 
Zavolas was later followed by reliever Anthony Bender who finished the seventh before allowing Huff's game winning hit in the eighth. Bender (L, 2-1, 1.13) allowed just the one unearned run on one hit over a 1/3 of an inning in game.
Hernandez (L, 10-7, 4.43) worked through four and 2/3 innings in game two while allowing just one run on seven hits. He allowed a home run to Altmann in the fourth, walked one and struck out five in the loss. Cody Beckman followed in relief and worked through an inning and 1/3 with a walk and strikeout for Carolina.
Carolina was shut out in game two and managed to score just two runs over both games of Thursday's twin-bill after getting a two-out, two-run single from Payton Henry in the fourth inning of game one. That hit came off game one starter Reid Anderson and was one of only two allowed in the game by the Down East starter. 
Anderson worked through five and 2/3 innings with two runs on two hits. He also walked four and struck out five while finishing without a decision. Francisco Villegas followed with an inning and 1/3 scoreless frames and Michael Matuella (W, 4-2, 3.62) struck out the side in the eighth while earned the win.
Henry went 1-for-2 with two RBI in game one for Carolina. His two-run single brought his season RBI total to 58 on the year and his Carolina League leading two-out RBI total to 30.
Thursday's doubleheader came at the end of Carolina's three game series in Kinston as it accounted for games two and three of the series. The Mudcats also lost the opener 1-0 on Wednesday and were held to just two runs in the series while being swept in three straight games. Carolina has also lost nine straight in games against the Wood Ducks this season.
The Mudcats fell to 0-3 in their current six game road trip after dropping all three games in Kinston to the Wood Ducks. The road trip will continue in Fayetteville with game one of three against the Woodpeckers beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night.
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