Shook and Reifert Lead Mudcats in First Road Win
KINSTON – Starter TJ Shook and reliever Evan Reifert combined on a two-hit shutout while handing Down East its first loss of the season 2-0 in game two of a doubleheader on Thursday night at Grainger Stadium in Kinston. Noah Campbell went 1-for-3 with a double and both Joey Wiemer
KINSTON – Starter TJ Shook and reliever Evan Reifert combined on a two-hit shutout while handing Down East its first loss of the season 2-0 in game two of a doubleheader on Thursday night at Grainger Stadium in Kinston. Noah Campbell went 1-for-3 with a double and both Joey Wiemer and Gabe Holt drove in runs for the Mudcats in the victory.
Shook (2-0, 1.80) earned his second win of the year while totaling seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings pitched. Reifert (S, 2) then picked up his second save of the season while working through a perfect sixth and seventh with two strikeouts in the twin-bill shortened game.
The Mudcats (6-3) scored once in the second and once more in the seventh while getting their first road victory of 2021. Campbell started the second with a double and went on to score when Wiemer reached on a fielding error in the same inning. Holt later plated the game’s second run with a sacrifice fly that scored Ashton McGee.
The Wood Ducks (8-1) suffered their first loss of the year and were held to just two hits in the game. Those two hits came in the first and third innings and were both allowed by Shook.
The series will continue on Friday night with right-hander and Creedmoor native Justin Bullock (0-1, 5.40) starting for the Mudcats at Grainger Stadium in Kinston. The Mudcats trail in the current six-game series two games to one.
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Campbell, SS (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B
Wiemer, RF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Harris, 1B (Down East): 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Freeman, C (Down East): 2-for-4
Rodriguez, K, 3B (Down East): 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Cabello, RF (Down East): 1-for-2, 1 R
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Shook (W, 2-0) (Carolina): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO
Reifert (S, 2) (Carolina): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Acker (L, 0-1) (Down East): 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Anderson (Down East): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
SCORING:
Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 0) -- Noah Campbell doubles to right field. Zavier Warren grounds out to Jose Rodriguez, Noah Campbell to 3rd. Joey Wiemer reaches on fielding error by Jose Rodriguez, Noah Campbell scores. Dane Acker picks off Joey Wiemer at on throw to Jose Rodriguez. Ashton McGee struck out looking.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)
Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 2, Wood Ducks 0) -- Pitcher Change: Leury Tejada replaces Ben Anderson. Ashton McGee walks. Alex Hall singles to deep shortstop, Ashton McGee to 2nd. Wild pitch by Leury Tejada, Ashton McGee to 3rd; Alex Hall to 2nd. Arbert Cipion strikes out swinging. Gabe Holt out on a sacrifice fly to Obie Ricumstrict, Ashton McGee scores; Alex Hall to 3rd. Felix Valerio grounds out, Keyber Rodriguez to Jose Rodriguez.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)