Mudcats Win Fifth Straight 11-6 in Kannapolis

Carolina 11 @ Kannapolis 6

July 17, 2021 | Venue : Atrium Health Ballpark | First pitch : 7:01 PM | Att : 3,784 | T : 4:02

WP: Miguel Guerrero (4 - 1) LP: Chase Solesky (1 - 4) SV: Brock Begue (1)

KANNAPOLIS – Noah Campbell walked twice with the bases loaded and four times overall, Darrien Miller scored three runs and Brock Begue recorded his first career save as the Mudcats won their fifth straight versus the Cannon Ballers 11-6 on Saturday night in Kannapolis.

Carolina (39-25) improved to a season high 14 games above .500 with the victory and moved to four games up on the Down East Wood Ducks in the Low-A East Central division. The Cannon Ballers (19-45) outhit the Mudcats, but committed three errors and used six pitchers in the loss.

Joey Wiemer started the scoring by opening Carolina’s four run second with a triple and then scoring moments later when Ernesto Martinez reached safely on an error by shortstop Jose Rodriguez. Martinez then went on to advance to second on a wild pitch before then stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by catcher Richard Garcia immediately after the wild pitch. The second then continued with a RBI single from Zavier Warren (scoring Gabe Holt who singled earlier) and a bases loaded, run-scoring walk from Campbell.

The Mudcats then added to the lead and took a 7-0 lead in the third after getting a RBI single from Andre Nnebe and another bases loaded walk from Campbell. Miller also scored in the third after coming across on a wild pitch.

The Cannon Ballers went on to pull within four of the lead after scoring twice in the fourth and once in the fifth, but Carolina answered with a four run sixth while pulling away with an 11-3 lead. That four run sixth began with three straight walks and continued with a sacrifice fly from Martinez, Wiemer scoring on a wild rundown play and Miller scoring on a wild pitch.

Carolina scored 11 runs in the game and did so on just seven hits. The Mudcats were additionally out-hit 11-7 in the game, but improved to 8-20 on the season when their opponent out-hits them. Carolina also scored 11 runs while only getting two runs scoring hits. They did, however, score twice with bases loaded walks in the second and third innings.

Miguel Guerrero followed starter Brandon Knarr in the fifth and earned the win after working through an inning and 1/3 in relief. Guerrero (4-1, 4.17) faced seven batters, totaled two strikeouts and allowed one unearned run on three hits in the victory.

Knarr started, but fell an out shy of qualifying for the win after hitting his pitch limit and going four and 2/3 innings overall. Knarr struck out seven, walked five and allowed three runs on four hits in the no-decision.

Brock Begue pitched the final three innings and ended up with his first career save. Begue (S, 1) struck out five, walked one and allowed two runs (both with two outs in the ninth) while scattering four hits.

The Cannon Ballers ended up using six pitchers in the loss with starter Chase Solesky taking the loss after allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits over an inning and 2/3. Solesky (1-4, 4.53) walked three and struck out three in the loss. Frander Veras also allowed three runs over his one inning in relief and Tyson Messer gave up four runs while recording just two outs. Pauly Milto, Ty Madrigal and McKinley Moore, however, all tossed scoreless frames for Kannapolis.

The series concludes on Sunday with the finale of the six game series beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Kannapolis. The Mudcats lead the series 5-0 and will be in search of their second sweep of the season. Carolina’s only sweep so far came against the Cannon Ballers earlier this year at Five County Stadium.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

Martinez, E, 1B (Carolina): 0-for-3, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

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

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

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

Mendoza, H, 1B (Kannapolis): 3-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Mieses, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 3 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Weaver, RF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 0 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Delgado, DH (Kannapolis): 1-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Knarr (Carolina): 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO

Guerrero (W, 4-1) (Carolina): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Begue (S, 1) (Carolina): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Milto (Kannapolis): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Madrigal (Kannapolis): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Moore (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

*SCORING PLAYS: *

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Joey Wiemer triples to center field. Ernesto Martinez reaches on fielding error by Jose Rodriguez, Joey Wiemer scores. Wild pitch by Chase Solesky, Ernesto Martinez to 2nd. Ernesto Martinez steals 3rd base, Ernesto Martinez scores; throwing error by Richard Garcia. Darrien Miller walks. Andre Nnebe flies out to Caberea Weaver. Gabe Holt singles to right-center field, Darrien Miller to 2nd. Freddy Zamora walks, Darrien Miller to 3rd; Gabe Holt to 2nd. Zavier Warren singles to right-center field, Darrien Miller scores; Gabe Holt to 3rd; Freddy Zamora to 2nd. Ashton McGee strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Frander Veras replaces Chase Solesky. Noah Campbell walks, Gabe Holt scores; Freddy Zamora to 3rd; Zavier Warren to 2nd. Joey Wiemer strikes out swinging.
(4 Runs, 3 Hits, 2 Errors, 3 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Ernesto Martinez walks. Darrien Miller singles to right-center field, Ernesto Martinez to 3rd. Andre Nnebe singles through the hole at second base, Ernesto Martinez scores; Darrien Miller to 2nd. Gabe Holt walks, Darrien Miller to 3rd; Andre Nnebe to 2nd. Freddy Zamora struck out looking. Zavier Warren lines out to Luis Mieses. Pitcher Change: Pauly Milto replaces Frander Veras. Wild pitch by Pauly Milto, Darrien Miller scores; Andre Nnebe to 3rd; Gabe Holt to 2nd. Ashton McGee walks. Noah Campbell walks, Andre Nnebe scores; Gabe Holt to 3rd; Ashton McGee to 2nd. Joey Wiemer strikes out swinging.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 4th (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Luis Mieses singles through the hole at second base. Harvin Mendoza singles to left-center field, Luis Mieses to 2nd. Caberea Weaver walks, Luis Mieses to 3rd; Harvin Mendoza to 2nd. Lency Delgado singles to center field, Luis Mieses scores; Harvin Mendoza scores; Caberea Weaver to 3rd. Richard Garcia flies out to Noah Campbell. James Beard strikes out swinging. Jose Rodriguez pops out to Freddy Zamora.
(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 5th (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Samil Polanco strikes out swinging. Bryan Ramos lines out to Joey Wiemer. Luis Mieses walks. Harvin Mendoza walks, Luis Mieses to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Miguel Guerrero replaces Brandon Knarr. Caberea Weaver doubles to left field, Luis Mieses scores; Harvin Mendoza to 3rd. Lency Delgado strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 11, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Pitcher Change: Tyson Messer replaces Pauly Milto. Ashton McGee walks. Noah Campbell walks, Ashton McGee to 2nd. Joey Wiemer walks, Ashton McGee to 3rd; Noah Campbell to 2nd. Passed ball by Richard Garcia, Ashton McGee scores; Noah Campbell to 3rd; Joey Wiemer to 2nd. Ernesto Martinez out on a sacrifice fly to James Beard, Noah Campbell scores; Joey Wiemer to 3rd. Darrien Miller reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Harvin Mendoza, Joey Wiemer scores; Darrien Miller to 3rd. Wild pitch by Tyson Messer, Darrien Miller scores. Andre Nnebe grounds out, Jose Rodriguez to Harvin Mendoza. Pitcher Change: Ty Madrigal replaces Tyson Messer. Gabe Holt strikes out swinging.
(4 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 6th (Mudcats 11, Cannon Ballers 4) -- Richard Garcia singles to left field. James Beard pops out to Ashton McGee in foul territory. Jose Rodriguez singles through the hole at shortstop, Richard Garcia to 2nd. Wild pitch by Miguel Guerrero, Richard Garcia to 3rd; Jose Rodriguez to 2nd. Samil Polanco flies out to Andre Nnebe, Richard Garcia scores; Jose Rodriguez to 3rd; throwing error by Andre Nnebe. Bryan Ramos strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 9th (Mudcats 11, Cannon Ballers 6) -- Samil Polanco strikes out swinging. Bryan Ramos flies out to Andre Nnebe. Luis Mieses singles to center field. Harvin Mendoza doubles to right-center field, Luis Mieses scores. Caberea Weaver doubles to left field, Harvin Mendoza scores. Lency Delgado strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)