Mudcats Take Finale 12-6 With Fourth Straight Victory

Carolina 12 @ Columbia 6

June 19, 2022 | Venue : Segra Park | First pitch : 5:08 PM | Att : 2,505 | T : 3:21

CAR: 0 5 1 0 2 0 4 0 0 12 17 1

COL: 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 1 0 6 8 1

WP: Stiven Cruz (2 - 1) LP: Luinder Avila (3 - 6)

COLUMBIA – Jean Carmona went 3-for-3 with three runs and two-run home run, Zack Raabe went 3-for-4 with two runs, and Jackson Chourio doubled and tripled while leading the Carolina Mudcats to a 12-6 series finale victory versus the Columbia Fireflies on Sunday night at Segra Park. The Carolina League North leading Mudcats won their fourth straight game and remained in first place by one game in the first half standings.

The Mudcats (34-29) jumped out an early 5-0 lead thanks to a five run second that was initially sparked by a leadoff single from Hedbert Perez and Carmona’s two-run home run in the very next at-bat. That five-run frame also included a run-scoring hit from Jeferson Quero, his first of two hits in the game.

Perez, Carmona, Quero, Chourio, Raabe and Jheremy Vargas all recorded multi-hit games with Perez, Carmona and Raabe each totaling three hits apiece. Carmona went 3-for-3 with three runs, a home run and three RBI. Raabe went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and a RBI. Raabe’s run-scoring hit came in the third when the Mudcats took a 6-0 lead on the Fireflies (18-45).

Carolina moved up 8-0 in the fifth after Vargas forced in a run with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and a RBI single from Eduardo Garcia. Garcia’s RBI single stretched his hitting streak to a career-high eight straight games.

Columbia came back with two runs in that same fifth while cutting the lead to 8-2, but like the fifth, the two teams traded runs again in the seventh with Carolina scoring four more and Columbia coming back with three. The Fireflies scored once more in the eighth, but that lone run only cut the Carolina lead down to the eventual 12-6 final.

Stiven Cruz started and earned the victory while pitching through the fifth with two runs allowed on five hits. Cruz (2-1) also walked one and struck out three while earning the series finale victory. Columbia starter Luinder Avila took the loss after allowing five runs and five hits over an inning and 2/3. Reliever Marlin Willis also allowed a large chunk of runs with four runs allowed on six hits over an inning and 2/3.

Carolina Reliever Junior Montero tossed a scoreless sixth and struck out one. Jakob Brustoski pitched part of the seventh, but was not able to finish the inning while walking four and allowing three runs and one hit. Michele Vassalotti followed in the seventh and stranded two inherited runners while finishing the frame. Vassalotti, however, returned for the eighth and would allow one Columbia run. Pablo Garabitos pitched the ninth and struck out two while finishing the game.

The Carolina offense matched a season high with 17 hits in the lopsided series finale road win. The victory was also Carolina’s fourth straight, giving them a 4-2 series win despite losing the first two game of the six-game set in Columbia.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Carmona (1, 2nd inning off Avila, 1 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

Raabe, DH (Carolina): 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Perez, LF (Carolina): 3-for-6, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Chourio, CF (Carolina): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Quero, C (Carolina): 2-for-6, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Town, R, LF (Columbia): 2-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Vazquez, SS (Columbia): 2-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Hernandez, O, C (Columbia): 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Hollie, RF (Columbia): 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

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

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

Vassalotti (Carolina): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

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

Barroso (Columbia): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Capellan (Columbia): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 5, Fireflies 0) -- Hedbert Perez singles to center field. Jean Carmona hits a home run to right-center field on a 0-2 pitch, Hedbert Perez scores. Oswal Leones struck out looking. Jesus Chirinos singles up the middle. Zack Raabe singles through the hole at second base, Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas walks, Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia reaches on a fielder's choice out, Daniel Vazquez to Dayton Dooney, Jesus Chirinos scores; Zack Raabe to 3rd; Jheremy Vargas out at 2nd. Jackson Chourio walks, Eduardo Garcia to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Tim Holdgrafer replaces Luinder Avila. Jeferson Quero singles to deep shortstop, Zack Raabe scores; Eduardo Garcia scores; Jackson Chourio to 3rd; throwing error by Daniel Vazquez. Hedbert Perez flies out to Erick Pena.

(5 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 6, Fireflies 0) -- Jean Carmona walks. Oswal Leones struck out looking. Jesus Chirinos walks, Jean Carmona to 2nd. Zack Raabe singles to left-center field, Jean Carmona scores; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas flies into double play, David Hollie to Dayton Dooney to Daniel Vazquez, Jesus Chirinos out at 2nd.

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

Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 8, Fireflies 0) -- Pitcher Change: John McMillon replaces Tim Holdgrafer. Hedbert Perez pops out to Dayton Dooney. Jean Carmona walks. Oswal Leones pops out to Enrique Valdez. Jesus Chirinos walks, Jean Carmona to 2nd. Zack Raabe walks, Jean Carmona to 3rd; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas hit by pitch, Jean Carmona scores; Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia singles to shallow right field, Jesus Chirinos scores; Zack Raabe to 3rd; Jheremy Vargas to 2nd. Jackson Chourio strikes out swinging.

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

Fireflies 5th (Mudcats 8, Fireflies 2) -- Omar Hernandez doubles to left field. David Hollie doubles to left field, Omar Hernandez scores. Enrique Valdez grounds out to Jesus Chirinos, David Hollie to 3rd. River Town singles to deep shortstop, David Hollie scores. Daniel Vazquez strikes out swinging. River Town advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Carter Jensen flies out to Jackson Chourio.

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

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 12, Fireflies 2) -- Zack Raabe doubles to right field. Wild pitch by Marlin Willis, Zack Raabe to 3rd. Jheremy Vargas singles through the hole at shortstop, Zack Raabe scores. Eduardo Garcia walks, Jheremy Vargas to 2nd. Wild pitch by Marlin Willis, Jheremy Vargas to 3rd; Eduardo Garcia to 2nd. Jackson Chourio triples to right-center field, Jheremy Vargas scores; Eduardo Garcia scores. Jeferson Quero strikes out swinging. Hedbert Perez singles to right-center field, Jackson Chourio scores. Jean Carmona walks, Hedbert Perez to 2nd. Oswal Leones grounds into a force out, Dayton Dooney to Daniel Vazquez, Hedbert Perez to 3rd; Jean Carmona out at 2nd. Pitcher Change: Luis Barroso replaces Marlin Willis. Jesus Chirinos struck out looking.

(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Fireflies 7th (Mudcats 12, Fireflies 5) -- Pitcher Change: Jakob Brustoski replaces Junior Montero. Defensive switch from 3rd to shortstop for Jean Carmona. Defensive Substitution: Luis Silva replaces shortstop Eduardo Garcia, batting 1st, playing 3rd. David Hollie walks. Wild pitch by Jakob Brustoski, David Hollie to 2nd. Enrique Valdez walks. River Town walks, David Hollie to 3rd; Enrique Valdez to 2nd. Daniel Vazquez singles to right-center field, David Hollie scores; Enrique Valdez scores; River Town to 3rd. Carter Jensen struck out looking. Daniel Vazquez steals 2nd base. Wild pitch by Jakob Brustoski, River Town scores; Daniel Vazquez to 3rd. Dayton Dooney strikes out swinging, Jeferson Quero to Jesus Chirinos. Guillermo Quintana walks. Pitcher Change: Michele Vassalotti replaces Jakob Brustoski. Erick Pena flies out to Jackson Chourio.

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

Fireflies 8th (Mudcats 12, Fireflies 6) -- Omar Hernandez singles to left-center field. David Hollie strikes out swinging. Enrique Valdez walks, Omar Hernandez to 2nd. River Town singles to right field, Omar Hernandez scores; Enrique Valdez to 3rd. Daniel Vazquez struck out looking. River Town advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Carter Jensen grounds out, Jheremy Vargas to Jesus Chirinos.

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