Perez Totals Three Hits in 10-5 Loss in Fayetteville

Carolina 5 @ Fayetteville 10

September 17, 2021 | Venue : SEGRA Stadium | First pitch : 6:32 PM | Att : 5,426 | T : 3:23

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 5 7 2
FAY: 1 1 0 5 0 3 0 0 x 10 9 1

WP: Jairo Lopez (1 - 1) LP: Christian Tripp (0 - 1)

FAYETTEVILLE – Hedbert Perez went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and Ethan Murray had a two-run single in the eighth, but the Carolina trailed from start to finish as Fayetteville scored two early runs and five runs in the fourth while winning their second straight 10-5 versus the Mudcats on Friday night at SEGRA Stadium.

The Mudcats (67-51) were officially eliminated from post-season contention with the loss as they entered the game with a tragic number of just one. Meanwhile, the Fayetteville (54-64) victory tied the series at 2-2 with two games remaining in the series and season.

Christian Tripp started for Carolina and pitched through three full frames while allowing a run in the first and second innings. Tripp (0-1, 4.97) gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four while taking the loss.

The Mudcats trailed 2-0 going into the fourth, but the Woodpeckers would go on to open things up with a five run fourth. All five in that frame were scored against reliever Justin Miller as he entered the game in relief of Tripp in the fourth. That inning included a RBI single from Michael Sandle, a three-run triple from Will Wagner and a sac fly.

Fayetteville led 7-0 in the game after the fourth and through the fifth before the Mudcats jumped on to the board with three runs in the sixth. Perez had his two-run single (his third of the night) in the sixth and Noah Campbell scored on a wild pitch.

Carolina’s sixth inning cut deficit to 7-3, but the Woodpeckers answered right back with three in the same frame while pulling ahead 10-3. Miller started that inning on the mound for Carolina, but ended up leaving the game right after loading the bases and walking in a run. Reliever Miguel Guerrero went on to follow, but allowed a two-run double to Miguel Palma before getting through the rest of the inning.

Carolina was down 10-3 through the seventh, but went on to score twice in eighth to cut the deficit to 10-5. Murray drove in both of Carolina’s runs in the eighth after connecting on a two-run single off reliever Walker Brockhouse.

Brockhouse allowed two Carolina runs in the eighth, but was also finished off the game as he later worked a scoreless ninth. Starter Spencer Arrighetti pitched through four scoreless with just one hit, one walk and five strikeouts. Reliever Jairo Lopez (1-1, 10.13) then worked a scoreless fifth after taking over Arrighetti, but Jose Betances would follow and allow four runs, four hits, five walks and six strikeouts.

Reliever Robbie Baker worked the final two and 2/3 innings for Carolina. Baker did not allow a run and struck out three in his appearance in Friday’s game.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Sandle, CF (Fayetteville): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

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

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

Murray, SS (Carolina): 1-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

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

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

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Tripp (L, 0-1) (Carolina): 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Baker (Carolina): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Arrighetti (Fayetteville): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Lopez (W, 1-1) (Fayetteville): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Brockhouse (Fayetteville): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Woodpeckers 1st (Woodpeckers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Michael Sandle doubles to right-center field. Joey Loperfido grounds out, Christian Tripp to Ernesto Martinez. Will Wagner singles through the hole at second base, Michael Sandle scores. Will Wagner steals 2nd base. Justin Williams grounds out, Ethan Murray to Ernesto Martinez. Quincy Hamilton grounds out to Ernesto Martinez.

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

Woodpeckers 2nd (Woodpeckers 2, Mudcats 0) -- Victor Mascai walks. Miguel Palma grounds into a force out, Ethan Murray to Tyler Black, Victor Mascai out at 2nd. Adonis Giron strikes out swinging. Chad Stevens singles to right field, Miguel Palma to 3rd. Michael Sandle singles through the hole at shortstop, Miguel Palma scores; Chad Stevens to 3rd. Michael Sandle steals 2nd base. Joey Loperfido strikes out swinging.

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

Woodpeckers 4th (Woodpeckers 7, Mudcats 0) -- Pitcher Change: Justin Miller replaces Christian Tripp. Adonis Giron reaches on fielding error by Ethan Murray. Wild pitch by Justin Miller, Adonis Giron to 2nd. Chad Stevens singles to deep second base, Adonis Giron to 3rd. Michael Sandle singles to right-center field, Adonis Giron scores; Chad Stevens to 3rd; Michael Sandle to 2nd. Joey Loperfido hit by pitch. Will Wagner triples to right field, Chad Stevens scores; Michael Sandle scores; Joey Loperfido scores. Justin Williams strikes out swinging. Quincy Hamilton out on a sacrifice fly to Hedbert Perez, Will Wagner scores. Victor Mascai grounds out, Tyler Black to Justin Miller.

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

Mudcats 6th (Woodpeckers 7, Mudcats 3) -- Pitcher Change: Jose Betances replaces Jairo Lopez. Darrien Miller walks. Alex Binelas singles to left field, Darrien Miller to 2nd. Tyler Black struck out looking. Noah Campbell walks, Darrien Miller to 3rd; Alex Binelas to 2nd. Micah Bello struck out looking. Hedbert Perez singles to right-center field, Darrien Miller scores; Alex Binelas scores; Noah Campbell to 3rd. Wild pitch by Jose Betances, Noah Campbell scores; Hedbert Perez to 2nd. Andre Nnebe walks. Zack Raabe singles to right field, Hedbert Perez out at home on the throw, Quincy Hamilton to Miguel Palma, Andre Nnebe to 3rd.

(3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Woodpeckers 6th (Woodpeckers 10, Mudcats 3) -- Joey Loperfido hit by pitch. Throwing error by Miguel Guerrero on the pickoff attempt. Will Wagner walks. Justin Williams strikes out on foul tip. Quincy Hamilton hit by pitch, Joey Loperfido to 3rd; Will Wagner to 2nd. Victor Mascai walks, Joey Loperfido scores; Will Wagner to 3rd; Quincy Hamilton to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Robbie Baker replaces Miguel Guerrero. Miguel Palma doubles down the left-field line, Will Wagner scores; Quincy Hamilton scores; Victor Mascai to 3rd. Adonis Giron strikes out swinging. Chad Stevens strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 8th (Woodpeckers 10, Mudcats 5) -- Micah Bello flies out to Joey Loperfido in foul territory. Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging. Andre Nnebe walks. Pitcher Change: Walker Brockhouse replaces Jose Betances. Andre Nnebe advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Zack Raabe walks. Wild pitch by Walker Brockhouse, Andre Nnebe to 3rd; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Ethan Murray singles to left field, Andre Nnebe scores; Zack Raabe scores. Darrien Miller grounds out, Will Wagner to Victor Mascai.

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