Mudcats Unable to Overcome Early Deficit in 6-2 Loss

Delmarva 6 @ Carolina 2

July 15, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 8:31 PM | Att : 4,001 | T : 2:27 (1:31 delay)

DEL: 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 10 1

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 0

WP: Ryan Long (4 - 4) LP: Carlos Rodriguez (2 - 4) SV: Darlin Alcantara (2)

ZEBULON – Jean Carmona and Luis Silva had back-to-back doubles in the ninth, Zack Raabe went 2-for-3, Jakob Brustoski struck out the side in the seventh and Ryan Middendorf pitched through two scoreless innings in his debut, but the Carolina Mudcats fell to the Delmarva Shorebirds 6-2 on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Shorebirds (7-12, 28-56) scored five early runs in the second and would not look back as they led the rest of the way. Trendon Craig had a two-run triple and Elio Prado had a two-run single in what was a five run and six hit second for Delmarva. All five runs scored against starter Carlos Rodriguez and would be enough in the 6-2 Delmarva victory. Rodriguez (2-4) allowed five runs on seven hits over three and 2/3 innings. He also walked just one and struck out six in the loss.

Carolina (8-11, 42-43) did manage to start their half of the first inning with back-to-back singles from Hendry Mendez and Raabe, but starter Ryan Long would escape the opening frame without allowing a run. Long (4-4) not only held the Mudcats without a run in the first, but would go on to pitch through six scoreless with three hits, a walk and five strikeouts while earning the win.

The Carolina bullpen took over for Rodriguez in the fourth when Pablo Garabitos entered and finished the frame with a pop out. Garabitos later gave up a run in the fifth, but pitched through two and 1/3 overall with a run, two hits and two strikeouts. Brustoski pitched the seventh and worked around a walk with three strikeouts. Middendorf went on to finish the game with four strikeouts over a scoreless eighth and ninth.

The Mudcats scored both of their runs against reliever Darlin Alcantara in the eighth and ninth innings. Alcantara (2) would earn the save though after pitching the final three innings with a run in the eighth and a Silva RBI double in the ninth

The loss dropped the Mudcats into a 2-2 series tie with the visiting Shorebirds. The six-game series will continue on Saturday with the fifth game of the series beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

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

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

Garcia, J, C (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Cespedes, C, DH (Delmarva): 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

De Leon, 3B (Delmarva): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Craig, LF (Delmarva): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Martinez, 1B (Delmarva): 1-for-4, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Garabitos (Carolina): 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Brustoski (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Middendorf (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Long (W, 4-4) (Delmarva): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Alcantara (S, 2) (Delmarva): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO

SCORING PLAYS:

Shorebirds 2nd (Shorebirds 5, Mudcats 0) -- Cristopher Cespedes singles to left-center field. Isaac De Leon singles to center field, Cristopher Cespedes to 2nd. Trendon Craig triples to center field, Cristopher Cespedes scores; Isaac De Leon scores. Stiven Acevedo strikes out swinging. Roberto Martinez grounds out, Carlos Rodriguez to Jesus Chirinos, Trendon Craig scores. Michael Mantecon singles to left field. Luis Valdez singles to right-center field, Michael Mantecon to 2nd. Elio Prado singles to center field, Michael Mantecon scores; Luis Valdez scores; Elio Prado to 3rd. Frederick Bencosme pops out to Luis Silva in foul territory.

(5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Shorebirds 5th (Shorebirds 6, Mudcats 0) -- Elio Prado grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos. Frederick Bencosme strikes out swinging. Cristopher Cespedes singles to right-center field. Isaac De Leon doubles to left-center field, Cristopher Cespedes scores. Trendon Craig grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Mudcats 8th (Shorebirds 6, Mudcats 1) -- Jesus Garcia singles to center field. Hendry Mendez walks, Jesus Garcia to 2nd. Zack Raabe walks, Jesus Garcia to 3rd; Hendry Mendez to 2nd. Oswal Leones walks, Jesus Garcia scores; Hendry Mendez to 3rd; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Hedbert Perez lines into double play, Stiven Acevedo to Michael Mantecon, Hendry Mendez out at home. Eduardo Garcia flies out to Stiven Acevedo.

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

Mudcats 9th (Shorebirds 6, Mudcats 2) -- Jesus Chirinos grounds out, Luis Valdez to Roberto Martinez. Jean Carmona doubles to left-center field. Luis Silva doubles to left field, Jean Carmona scores. Jesus Garcia strikes out swinging. Hendry Mendez pops out to Frederick Bencosme.

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