BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Freddy Peralta allowed just one earned run over a season high six and 1/3 innings, but the Astros scored two unearned runs in the first and Carolina finished without a run scoring hit while falling 3-2 to Buies Creek in game three of a four game
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Freddy Peralta allowed just one earned run over a season high six and 1/3 innings, but the Astros scored two unearned runs in the first and Carolina finished without a run scoring hit while falling 3-2 to Buies Creek in game three of a four game series at Jim Perry Stadium on Friday night.
The Astros (31-24) scored two unearned runs in the first and later broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a two-out run scoring double from Rodrigo Ayarza. The Mudcats (29-25) managed just two runs in the loss, with both scoring on wild pitches in the seventh inning, but were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
Carolina fell to 1.5 games back the Astros for first place in the Carolina League Southern Division standings with the loss.
Peralta (0-3, 3.11) suffered the loss despite allowing just one earned run on five hits over six and 1/3 innings pitched. He also walked three and struck out four while taking his third loss of the season. He saw two unearned runs score against him in the first and later left the game in the seventh after allowing a double to Anibal Sierra with one out in the inning.
Brad Kuntz followed and lost the tie after allowing Sierra to score on a two-out, go-ahead double from Ayarza. Kuntz eventually got out of the seventh and worked the eighth while finishing with one hit, one walk and one strikeout in the game.
Yoanys Quiala started for the Astros and worked through six and 1/3 innings with just two runs allowed on two hits. He took a no-hitter into the sixth, but lost it when Jake Gatewood reached on a single to center with two outs in the inning. Quiala escaped the sixth with the just the one hit allowed and returned for the seventh before giving up a double to Luis Aviles Jr. and later left the game with two men on base.
Reliever Carlos Sierra took over for Quiala and went on to allow both inherited runners to score on two wild pitches as the Mudcats managed to tie the game without collecting a run scoring hit in the frame. Sierra (BS, 2, 1-0, 3.63) lost two wild pitches, walked one and struck out three and eventually earned the victory, while also suffering a blown save.
The Astros led first in the game after scoring twice in the first with help of errors by Isan Díaz and Trent Clark. Myles Straw reached on Diaz's fielding error in the first and later scored on a RBI single by Anthony Hermelyn. Dexture McCall also had a run scoring single in the first. His hit scored Ryne Birk who had moved to third moments earlier on a fielding error by Clark in right.
The Astros led 2-0 until the seventh when both Aviles and Hummel managed to score on wild pitches lost by Sierra. Aviles was 1-for-4 with a run in the game for the Mudcats.
Weston Wilson was also 1-for-4 with his hit coming with two outs in the ninth off closer Nick Hernandez. Wilson's hit moved pinch runner Carlos Belonis up to second, but Corey Ray struck out with two on to end the game. Hernandez (S, 7) escaped the jam while earning his seventh save of the season.
UP NEXT: The series concludes on Saturday night at Jim Perry Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Buies Creek. The Mudcats lead the series two games to one and can pull within a half game of first with a victory in Saturday's finale. Saturday's game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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