Mudcats Win See-Saw Battle 8-5 to End Skid

Fayetteville 5 @ Carolina 8

June 28, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:04 PM | Att : 1,092 | T : 2:38

FAY: 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 5 11 1

CAR: 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 3 x 8 9 0

WP: Junior Montero (4 - 0) LP: Fabricio Reina (2 - 3) SV: Michele Vassalotti (4)

ZEBULON – Eduardo Garcia went 3-for-4 with three runs, Jesus Chirinos drove in three runs while going 2-for-3 and starter Carlos Rodriguez struck out seven over four and 1/3 as the Carolina Mudcats snapped a six-game losing streak with an 8-5 victory versus the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats (1-3) outlasted the Woodpeckers (1-3) in Tuesday’s series and homestand opener in Zebulon. The game saw several lead changes, but the Mudcats would prevail despite being held without a hit or run over the first four innings.

With rehabber Forrest Whitley cruising through three scoreless and hitless innings, the Woodpeckers would go out in front 1-0 with a run in the second. Rodriguez allowed that run, but did so after getting Tyler Whitaker to hit into a bases loaded double play.

With both Whitley and reliever Jacob DeLabio out, the Mudcats would go on to score a couple of runs on two hits in the fifth while taking a 2-1 lead. Garcia started that rally with a double before scoring a couple batters later on a Jheremy Vargas sac fly. Chirinos then drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center as Carolina took its first lead of the game.

Carolina’s 2-1 lead would be short-lived as the Woodpeckers rallied for three runs and three hits while taking a 4-2 lead in the sixth. Logan Cerny and Miguel Palma both had a RBI doubles during Fayetteville’s three run and three hit frame.

All three runs were scored against reliever Brannon Jordan who had taken over for Rodriguez in the fifth. Jordan allowed three runs on five hits over two and 2/3 innings. Rodriguez scattered four hits, allowed one run and struck out seven over four and 1/3 in his start.

The Mudcats were down 4-2 going into their half sixth before getting a run back when Jackson Chourio tripled and scored on a Jeferson Quero single. Carolina then took their second lead of the game in the seventh with a two run and two hit frame. Garcia once again started the rally with a leadoff single before stealing second and scoring on another Chirinos’ run-scoring hit. Vargas later scored on a fielder’s choice to break the tie and give the Mudcats a 5-4 lead.

Reliever Junior Montero then took over in the eighth with the Mudcats up a run, but he would go on to allow a two-out run-scoring hit to Whitaker as the Woodpeckers tied it at 5-5. Montero (4-0) allowed just the one run on two hits while earing the victory.

The Mudcats then broke the tie and took the lead for good in the eighth after getting three runs and three hits against reliever Fabrico Reina. Garcia used what was his third hit of the night to score the first Carolina run in the eighth. Zack Raabe then scored the second with a RBI double and Chirinos brought in the third with a sac fly.

Reina took the loss after allowing three runs and three hits in the eighth. Alex Santos suffered a blown save as he preceded Reina while working the fifth, sixth and seventh. Santos allowed five runs and six hits over three innings for Fayetteville.

Michele Vassalotti pitched the ninth and struck out the side while earning his fourth save.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

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

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

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

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

Orr, RF (Fayetteville): 2-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Williams, J, 1B (Fayetteville): 3-for-4, 3 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

Palma, C (Fayetteville): 2-for-3, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Rodriguez (Carolina): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO

Montero (W, 4-0)(BS, 1) (Carolina): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Vassalotti (S, 4) (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Whitley (Fayetteville): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO

DeLabio (Fayetteville): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:

Woodpeckers 2nd (Woodpeckers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Justin Williams singles to left-center field. Logan Cerny singles through the hole at second base, Justin Williams to 2nd. Miguel Palma walks, Justin Williams to 3rd; Logan Cerny to 2nd. Tyler Whitaker grounds into double play, Jheremy Vargas to Zack Raabe, Justin Williams scores; Logan Cerny out at 3rd, Miguel Palma out at 2nd, Tyler Whitaker to 1st. Yeuris Ramirez strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 2, Woodpeckers 1) -- Pitcher Change: Alex Santos II replaces Jacob DeLabio. Hedbert Perez pops out to Leosdany Molina. Eduardo Garcia doubles to left-center field. Zack Raabe walks, Eduardo Garcia to 3rd;wild pitch by Alex Santos II. Jheremy Vargas out on a sacrifice fly to Cody Orr, Eduardo Garcia scores; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Jesus Chirinos singles to center field, Zack Raabe scores; Jesus Chirinos out at 2nd on the throw, Logan Cerny to Alex Santos II to Leosdany Molina.

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

Woodpeckers 6th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 2) -- Leosdany Molina grounds out, Zack Raabe to Brannon Jordan. Joey Loperfido walks. Justin Williams hits a ground rule double to right field, Joey Loperfido to 3rd. Logan Cerny doubles to left-center field, Joey Loperfido scores; Justin Williams scores. Miguel Palma doubles to left field, Logan Cerny scores. Tyler Whitaker struck out looking. Yeuris Ramirez strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 6th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 3) -- Jean Carmona struck out looking. Hendry Mendez grounds out, Leosdany Molina to Justin Williams. Jackson Chourio triples to center field. Jeferson Quero singles to right-center field, Jackson Chourio scores. Hedbert Perez pops out to Leosdany Molina.

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

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 5, Woodpeckers 4) -- Eduardo Garcia singles to deep shortstop. Eduardo Garcia steals 2nd base. Zack Raabe flies out to Cody Orr, Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Jheremy Vargas walks. Jesus Chirinos singles through the hole at second base, Eduardo Garcia scores; Jheremy Vargas to 3rd. Jean Carmona reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Joey Loperfido, Jheremy Vargas scores; Jean Carmona to 2nd; throwing error by Joey Loperfido. Hendry Mendez struck out looking. Jackson Chourio strikes out swinging.

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

Woodpeckers 8th (Woodpeckers 5, Mudcats 5) -- Pitcher Change: Junior Montero replaces Brannon Jordan. Justin Williams singles to right-center field. Wild pitch by Junior Montero, Justin Williams to 2nd. Logan Cerny grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos. Miguel Palma grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos. Tyler Whitaker singles to right field, Justin Williams scores; Tyler Whitaker to 2nd. Yeuris Ramirez lines out to Jheremy Vargas.

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

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 8, Woodpeckers 5) -- Pitcher Change: Fabricio Reina replaces Alex Santos II. Jeferson Quero walks. Hedbert Perez singles through the hole at second base, Jeferson Quero to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia singles to left-center field, Jeferson Quero scores; Hedbert Perez to 2nd. Zack Raabe doubles to right field, Hedbert Perez scores; Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Jheremy Vargas pops out to Logan Cerny. Jesus Chirinos out on a sacrifice fly to Cody Orr, Eduardo Garcia scores; Zack Raabe to 3rd. Jean Carmona strikes out on foul tip.

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