BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Jose Cuas doubled and scored a run on a sacrifice fly from Lucas Erceg in the third, but that was all Buies Creek starter Framber Valdez allowed as he struck out 11 over eight innings as the Astros defeated the Mudcats 2-1 on Wednesday night.
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Jose Cuas doubled and scored a run on a sacrifice fly from Lucas Erceg in the third, but that was all Buies Creek starter Framber Valdez allowed as he struck out 11 over eight innings as the Astros defeated the Mudcats 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Valdez (2-3, 2.79) allowed two Carolina (4-3, 40-35) hits in the first and just one other hit in the third. In all, he scattered just the three early hits while leading the Astros (3-4, 40-37) to the victory and a 2-1 series lead. Valdez finished with only the three hits allowed and struck out 11 while walking two and pitching to an 86 game score.
Lucas Erceg had one of the two Carolina hits in the first and was 1-for-2 in the game with a sacrifice fly and a RBI. His sac fly came in Carolina's one run third and drove in Cuas from third after he doubled earlier in the inning.
Carolina led 1-0 in the third, but the Astros immediately answered with a run in the same frame to tie it at 1-1. They later scored the go-ahead and eventual game winner in the fifth while taking a 2-1 advantage.
Kodi Medeiros started for Carolina and allowed both Buies Creek runs and took the loss. Medeiros (3-6, 4.95) walked Yordan Alvarez with the bags full in the third to tie the game and later gave up a RBI double to Alvarez in the one run Buies Creek fifth. Medeiros walked five, struck out four and allowed two runs on four hits over four and 1/3 innings in the loss.
Wuilder Rodriguez followed Medeiros and worked through two and 2/3 scoreless with four strikeouts. He allowed a couple of hits, but stranded two inherited runners in the fifth and worked through the seventh. Brad Kuntz later worked the eighth and struck out one of the three he faced in his brief appearance.
Alvarez was 1-for-3 for the Astros with two RBIs. Myles Straw was 1-for-2 with a run and Anibal Sierra was 2-for-4 with a run as well in the Buies Creek victory.
Carolina did threaten to tie the game after getting a runner on base in the ninth against reliever Ralph Garza after Erceg reached on a force out. He then managed to get to third on two wild pitches lost by Garza, but both Jake Gatewood and Isan Díaz struck out with Erceg on base to end the game. Garza finished with two strikeouts in the final frame and left Erceg at third while earning the save.
UP NEXT: The series concludes on Thursday night at Jim Perry Stadium with Trey Supak getting the start for the Mudcats. Carolina trails 2-1 in the series and will look for the split with a victory in Thursday's finale at Buies Creek. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
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