Rodriguez Goes Five Strong in Mudcats Defeat

Augusta GreenJackets 7 – Carolina Mudcats 5

Box Score

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – The Carolina Mudcats (8-2) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday night at SRP Park as the Augusta GreenJackets (6-4) took the series opener by a final score of 7-5. The loss marked the first road defeat of the season for the Mudcats.

Manuel Rodriguez (L, 0-2) put together a solid outing despite the loss as the righthander went five innings, allowing just one run on a Leiker Figueroa RBI double in the third inning. Rodriguez finished his night with seven strikeouts in just his second Single-A start.

Augusta took control of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring six times. Diego Benitez had an RBI single before Drew Compton scored two more with a base hit to make it 4-0. Robert Gonzalez later hit a sacrifice fly and Figueroa added to his big game with a two-run single of his own.

GreenJackets starter Cade Kuehler (W, 1-0) shined early on, tossing six scoreless frames while striking out four. However, Carolina finally broke through offensively in the top of the seventh. With two on and one out, Kay-Lan Nicasia blasted a three-run home run to left center field to cut the deficit to four. It was Nicasia's second home run of the year, the first Mudcat to hit multiple in 2024.

In the top of the eighth, Carolina continued to put the pressure on the GreenJackets. Tayden Hall drove in Juan Baez on an RBI single to make it 7-4. Two batters later, Yophery Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch to bring the Mudcats within two. It was the closest they would get though as closer Giomar Diaz (SV, 2) recorded the final three outs without incident for the hosts.

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday night in North Augusta. RHP Daniel Corniel will make his second start of the season while the GreenJackets send RHP Davis Polo to the hill. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

Single-game tickets, season ticket packages, mini plans, group options, as well as luxury suite packages and DRB Homes Sky Lounge reservations in the US Foods Club Level are also still available now by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287, and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon.