Mudcats Win Third Straight 7-5 Versus Potomac

ZEBULON, N.C. - Clayton Andrews went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI, Ryan Aguilar drove in two while going 3-for-4 with a double, Pat McInerney went 2-for-3 with a home run and Rodrigo Benoit earned his 12th save as the Mudcats won their third straight game 7-5 versus Potomac on Saturday night in Zebulon. 

The Nationals (3-7, 33-44) scored three runs in the top of the first, but Carolina (6-4, 45-34) came back with a run in the first and second before scoring three times in the third while taking a 5-3 lead. Potomac came back with a run in the fourth, the Mudcats then answered with one more in the fourth and the two teams later traded runs in the seventh as Carolina went up by the eventual final score of 7-5.
Christian Taugner started for the Mudcats and earned the victory despite allowing three runs on five hits in the first inning. Taugner (W, 3-5, 5.84) began his start by allowing three quick runs as the Nationals totaled three runs and three hits against him over his first six pitches of the game. 
Potomac's rapid first inning rally included Nick Banks singling to center before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scoring on a RBI single to left-center from Aldrem Corredor. Potomac's KJ Harrison then hit a two-run home run to left and the Nationals went up 3-0 right out the gates in Saturday's game. Banks saw just two pitches in his at bat, Freeman and Corredor saw one each and Harrison's homer came on the second pitch of his at bat.
Taugner allowed three runs on five hits in the first, but went on to hold the Nationals to just three other hits and to one other run the rest of the way as he pitched through the sixth with a season high six strikeouts. His only other run allowed came in the fourth when he allowed a solo home run to Jakson Reetz. In all, Taugner struck out six, walked one, allowed two homers, gave up four earned runs on eight hits and faced 25 batters while reaching 86 pitches (58 strikes) in the victorious outing.
Potomac starter Andrew Lee allowed Carolina's two runs over the first two frames and reliever Hayden Howard allowed three Carolina runs on four hits over an inning 1/3 between the second and third innings. Howard (L, 2-2, 4.45) lost a 2-1 Potomac lead in the third and allowed three runs in that same frame while taking the loss.
The Mudcats first began their comeback after Andrews walked and scored on a bases loaded wild pitch lost by Lee in the first. Lee walked two and allowed one hit in the first before allowing Andrews to score with two outs in the frame.
Andrews, with Carolina down 3-1, struck again in the second when he singled in Wes Rogers from second with a one-out RBI single to right off Lee.
Carolina was down 3-2 going into the third before McInerney and Trever Morrison went back-to-back with doubles off Howard in the third. Morrison's double scored McInerney to tie the game at 3-3, but Aguilar went on to bring in two more runs in the third with a two-run single to right as Carolina took its first lead at 5-3. 
Aguilar's go-ahead two-run single earlier in the game with two outs in the third followed an infield hit to second from Andrews. That hit loaded the bases and was Andrews' second of three hits in the game. He also had a RBI single that scored Julio Garcia in the fifth as Carolina answered Reetz's home run while going up 6-4. Andrews went 3-for-4 with a career best two RBI in the victory. It was also his second three-hit game and he extended his hitting streak to six straight games in just his ninth start in center.
Aguilar also had three hits while going 3-for-5 with two RBI in the game. His two-run double in the third gave the Mudcats the lead and was his 16th of the season. 
McInerney, meanwhile, drove in the final Carolina run of the game after hitting a solo home run to start the seventh. It was his fifth homer of the season and his second hit of the game. McInerney went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI in the game.
Reliever Jhonathan German gave up McInerney's homer in the seventh, but pitched through the final two innings with just the one run allowed on two hits. He also struck out two after entering the game in place of reliever Aaron Fletcher. Fletcher totaled five strikeouts and allowed one unearned run on three hits over three innings in the game.
Reliever's J.T. Hintzen and Benoit followed Taugner while finishing the game for Carolina. Hintzen allowed a run and two hits in the seventh, but worked through two innings in all while striking out two. Benoit (S, 12) worked the ninth and struck out two and pitched around a hit while earning his 12th save of the season. It was also his second in as many games as he also earned the save on Friday night.
The series, and home stand, will conclude on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium. Carolina leads the series 3-0 and will look for a four game sweep with RHP Matt Smith getting the series finale start. The Mudcats are also 3-3 in the current home stand.
The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. The game will also stream live in full high-definition video on MiLB.tv via Minor League Baseball's subscription service.
Individual game tickets, season ticket plans, group ticket packages and the latest mini plans are all available now by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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