Sibrian Homers as Mudcats Win Fifth Straight 4-3

Carolina 4 @ Kannapolis 3

July 04, 2022 | Venue : Atrium Health Ballpark | First pitch : 7:28 PM | Att : 5,391 | T : 2:26 (:58 delay)

CAR: 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 1

KAN: 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 1

WP: Alexander Cornielle (4 - 7) LP: Brooks Gosswein (2 - 4) SV: Karlos Morales (3)

KANNAPOLIS – Jose Sibrian hit a three-run home run in the first, Alexander Cornielle started and struck out seven over five innings, Miguel Guerrero stranded three inherited runners in the sixth and Karlos Morales earned his third save as the Carolina Mudcats won their fifth straight game 4-3 versus the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Monday night in Kannapolis.

The Mudcats (6-4, 40-36) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after scoring four runs on three hits in the first inning. That four-run frame included a RBI single from Jeferson Quero and Sibrian’s three-run home run. The home run was Sibrian’s first of the season and lifted the Mudcats to the early 4-0 lead.

Brooks Gosswein started for the Cannon Ballers (6-4, 32-44) and took the loss after allowing all four, first-inning runs. Those four though, were all that the Kannapolis starter allowed in his outing.

Cornielle (4-7) started and picked up the win for the Mudcats as he worked through the fifth with two runs allowed on four hits. He also struck out seven and pitched around five walks. Cornielle allowed a solo home run to Colby Smelley in the fourth, thus allowing the Cannon Ballers to score their first of three runs in the game.

Reliever Jakob Brustoski took over for Cornielle with the Mudcats leading 4-2 in the sixth, but would end up giving up a run after walking four straight batters upon entering the game. With their lead down to 4-3, the Mudcats then turned to reliever Miguel Guerrero for the rest of the sixth. Guerrero inherited a one-out, bases loaded jam from Brustoski, but ended up escaping the frame with the lead in-tact. In all Guerrero held Kannapolis scoreless over two and 2/3 and struck out four in his first game back with Carolina since the 2021 season.

With the Mudcats still up 4-3, Morales (3) would then finish the game with a scoreless ninth that saw him face three and strikeout two to earn the save.

The victory came in Carolina’s series opener in Kannapolis and was the club’s fifth straight win overall. Following tomorrow’s scheduled off-day, the series will continue on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Kannapolis.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Sibrian (1, 1st inning off Gosswein, 2 on, 2 out).

Kannapolis: Smelley (3, 4th inning off Cornielle, 0 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Smelley, DH (Kannapolis): 1-for-2, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Atwood, 2B (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 1 2B

Sanchez, W, SS (Kannapolis): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 3B

Sibrian, C (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Quero, DH (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI

Leones, RF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 2B

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Cornielle (W, 4-7) (Carolina): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO

Guerrero (H, 1) (Carolina): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Morales (S, 3) (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Veloz (Kannapolis): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Gallagher (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 1st (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Zack Raabe grounds out, Andy Atwood to Wilfred Veras. Jackson Chourio walks. Jackson Chourio steals 2nd base. throwing error by Victor Torres. Jeferson Quero singles to center field, Jackson Chourio scores. Hedbert Perez walks, Jeferson Quero to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia strikes out swinging. Jose Sibrian hits a home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch, Jeferson Quero scores; Hedbert Perez scores. Jesus Chirinos struck out looking.

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

Cannon Ballers 4th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Wilfred Veras strikes out swinging. Colby Smelley hits a home run to left field on a 3-1 pitch. Andy Atwood doubles down the left-field line. Benyamin Bailey strikes out swinging. Victor Torres grounds out, Jheremy Vargas to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Cannon Ballers 5th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Caberea Weaver lines out to Eduardo Garcia. Wilber Sanchez triples to left-center field. Wes Kath singles to left-center field, Wilber Sanchez scores; Wes Kath out at 2nd on the throw, Hedbert Perez to Zack Raabe. DJ Gladney walks. Wilfred Veras strikes out on foul tip.

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

Cannon Ballers 6th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Pitcher Change: Jakob Brustoski replaces Alexander Cornielle. Colby Smelley walks. Andy Atwood walks, Colby Smelley to 2nd. Benyamin Bailey walks, Colby Smelley to 3rd; Andy Atwood to 2nd. Victor Torres walks, Colby Smelley scores; Andy Atwood to 3rd; Benyamin Bailey to 2nd. Caberea Weaver strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Miguel Guerrero replaces Jakob Brustoski. Wilber Sanchez strikes out swinging. Wes Kath pops out to Jheremy Vargas.

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