Quero Homers as Mudcats Drop Fifth Straight

Carolina 1 @ Columbia 2

June 15, 2022 | Venue : Segra Park | First pitch : 12:07 PM | Att : 3,527 | T : 2:17

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 2

COL: 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 x 2 4 0

WP: Ryan Hennen (1 - 0) LP: Israel Puello (3 - 7) SV: Luis Barroso (5)

COLUMBIA – Jeferson Quero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the eighth and pitchers Israel Puello and Edwin Jimenez combined to allow just two runs on four hits, but the Columbia Fireflies outlasted the Carolina Mudcats 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Segra Park in Columbia, SC. The loss was Carolina’s fifth straight and dropped them to a 0-2 deficit in their current series with the Fireflies.

Jeferson Quero has the Mudcats on the board with a solo home run (3) in the 8th! pic.twitter.com/8KAeFqKnKn

— Carolina Mudcats (@CarolinaMudcats) June 15, 2022

The Fireflies (18-41) scored an unearned run against Puello (3-7) in the first while taking the early 1-0 lead. They then went up 2-0 in the fourth on a solo home run from Dayton Dooney. The Dooney home run accounted for the lone earned run charged to Puello in his outing. Carolina’s starter pitched through five innings with two runs (one earned) allowed on two hits. He also walked two and struck out five. Jimenez followed in the sixth and went on to hold the Fireflies scoreless the rest of the way. Jimenez also walked two and struck out two.

The early Columbia lead was all that starter Ben Kudrna and relievers Ryan Hennen and Luis Barroso would need as they held the Mudcats (30-29) to just the one run on seven hits. Kudrna struck out six and walked two over four and 1/3 innings. Hennen (1-0) allowed Quero’s homer, but also worked through three and 2/3 of one-run ball while earning the victory. Hennen worked into the ninth, but left after walking Hendry Mendez to start the inning. Barroso (S, 5) followed and pitched around a walk of his own while leaving two men on to close things out.

The loss was Carolina’s fifth straight (a season high) and dropped them to just one game above .500 on the season. The series will continue on Thursday night in Columbia, SC with RHP Carlos Rodriguez starting for the Mudcats.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Quero (3, 8th inning off Hennen, 0 on, 0 out).

Columbia: Dooney (1, 4th inning off Puello, 0 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Dooney, 2B (Columbia): 1-for-1, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Ramirez, J, RF (Columbia): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

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

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Puello (L, 3-7) (Carolina): 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

Jimenez (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Kudrna (Columbia): 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Hennen (W, 1-0) (Columbia): 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Barroso (S, 5) (Columbia): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:

Fireflies 1st (Fireflies 1, Mudcats 0) -- Jean Ramirez bunt singles to shallow center field, Jean Ramirez advances to 3rd on throwing error by Jeferson Quero. River Town walks. Carter Jensen strikes out swinging. Dayton Dooney out on a sacrifice fly to Hendry Mendez, Jean Ramirez scores. Erick Pena struck out looking.

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

Fireflies 4th (Fireflies 2, Mudcats 0) -- Carter Jensen strikes out swinging. Dayton Dooney hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch. Erick Pena strikes out swinging. Felix Familia grounds out, Jesus Chirinos to Israel Puello.

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

Mudcats 8th (Fireflies 2, Mudcats 1) -- Jeferson Quero hits a home run to right field on a 1-1 pitch. Jackson Chourio flies out to Erick Pena. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging, Kyle Hayes to Felix Familia. Hedbert Perez struck out looking.

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