Zamora Homers & McGee Doubles Twice in 7-3 Win

Carolina 7 @ Kannapolis 3

July 15, 2021 | Venue : Atrium Health Ballpark | First pitch : 7:01 PM | Att : 2,929 | T : 2:57

WP: Brendan Murphy (4 - 3) LP: Kevin Folman (2 - 2) SV: Cam Robinson (7)

LISTEN: Manager Joe Ayrault Post-Game Interview

KANNAPOLIS – Ashton McGee had two doubles, Noah Campbell totaled three hits, Freddy Zamora hit a two-run home run and Brendan Murphy struck out six over six scoreless innings in relief as the Mudcats won their third straight 7-3 versus the Cannon Ballers on Thursday night at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis. Cam Robinson earned his seventh save after working around a bases loaded jam in the eighth and getting a double to end the game in the ninth.

The Mudcats (37-25) scored once in the second and six times (including four with two outs) in the third while taking a 7-0 lead. The Cannon Ballers (19-43) later rallied in the eighth with three runs, but Carolina held on as Robinson (S, 7) closed it out.

McGee doubled and scored on a single from Ernesto Martinez in the second as Carolina took the early 1-0 lead. The double was McGee’s first of two in the game as he ended up going 2-for-5 while recording his third straight multi-hit game. The Martinez RBI single was also his first of two straight RBI singles as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the game. He ended up getting RBI singles in the second and third for the Mudcats.

The Mudcats led 1-0 heading into the third, but went up 3-0 on Zamora’s home run, before going on to rally for six straight hits and six runs (four of which with two outs) while taking a 7-0 lead. That inning began with a single by Gabe Holt and continued with Zamora’s two run home run. Kevin Folman, who started for Kannapolis then retired two straight before then giving up consecutive two-out hits to McGee, Joey Wiemer, Noah Campbell, Martinez and Andre Nnebe.

Both Wiemer and Campbell had infield hits against Folman (2-2, 6.04), while both McGee and Nnebe had doubles. Campbell, Maritnez and Nnebe each had scoring hits as well in the Carolina third.

Folman allowed all seven (six earned) Carolina runs and took the loss after working through just two and 2/3 innings. Karan Patel (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO), Sammy Peralta (4.0 IP, 2 H, 6 SO) and McKinley Moore (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) followed and combined to hold the Mudcats scoreless the rest of the way.

Abner Uribe started the game as the opener and walked one while working a scoreless first. He also threw 18 pitches with nine strikes in the first inning.

Murphy (4-3, 5.63) followed and went on to work through six scoreless innings while earning the victory. The Carolina left-hander also totaled six strikeouts and scattered two hits in his dominating outing. Murphy faced 22 batters and retired the side in order in the third, fourth and seventh innings. The seventh saw Murphy strike out the side to wrap up his stellar appearance.

Peyton Long later took over for Murphy in the eighth, but allowed five straight hits (to all five of the batters he faced) and was removed from the game with the bases loaded and before recording an out. Robinson followed and eventually escaped the eighth with just one inherited runner allowed to score.

The Cannon Ballers trimmed Carolina’s lead to 7-3 after getting three runs in the eighth, but Robinson returned for the ninth and pitched a scoreless frame while closing out Carolina’s third straight victory. Robinson finished the game by getting Bryan Ramos to hit into a double play to end the game. That play saw the Mudcats record an out at second and at home as Zamora threw out Jose Rodriguez to finish it. Rodriguez had been at second and attempted to score on Ramos’ force out grounder to second.

The series continues on Friday with the fourth game of six beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Kannapolis. The Mudcats lead the series 3-0.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina HR : Zamora (3, 3rd inning off Folman, 1 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

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

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

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

Polanco, 3B (Kannapolis): 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Mieses, RF (Kannapolis): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Mendoza, H, 1B (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Uribe (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

Murphy (W, 4-3) (Carolina): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Robinson (S, 7) (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

Patel (Kannapolis): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Peralta (Kannapolis): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO

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

SCORING PLAYS:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Felix Valerio grounds out, Lency Delgado to Harvin Mendoza. Ashton McGee doubles to left field. Joey Wiemer grounds out, Jose Rodriguez to Harvin Mendoza. Noah Campbell reaches on fielding error by Samil Polanco, Ashton McGee to 3rd. Ernesto Martinez singles to center field, Ashton McGee scores; Noah Campbell to 2nd. Andre Nnebe struck out looking.

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

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Gabe Holt singles to left-center field. Freddy Zamora hits a home run to left field on a 1-2 pitch, Gabe Holt scores. Zavier Warren struck out looking. Felix Valerio flies out to James Beard. Ashton McGee doubles through the hole at shortstop. Joey Wiemer singles to deep shortstop, Ashton McGee to 3rd. Noah Campbell singles to deep second base, Ashton McGee scores; Joey Wiemer to 2nd. Ernesto Martinez singles to right-center field, Joey Wiemer scores; Noah Campbell to 3rd; Ernesto Martinez to 2nd. Andre Nnebe doubles to right field, Noah Campbell scores; Ernesto Martinez scores. Pitcher Change: Karan Patel replaces Kevin Folman. Gabe Holt grounds out to Harvin Mendoza.

(6 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 8th (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Pitcher Change: Peyton Long replaces Brendan Murphy. Victor Torres singles down the right-field line. Wild pitch by Peyton Long, Victor Torres to 2nd. Jose Rodriguez singles to center field, Victor Torres to 3rd. Samil Polanco singles to left-center field, Victor Torres scores; Jose Rodriguez to 2nd. Bryan Ramos singles to right-center field, Jose Rodriguez to 3rd; Samil Polanco to 2nd. Luis Mieses singles to right-center field, Jose Rodriguez scores; Samil Polanco to 3rd; Bryan Ramos to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Cam Robinson replaces Peyton Long. Harvin Mendoza walks, Samil Polanco scores; Bryan Ramos to 3rd; Luis Mieses to 2nd. Lency Delgado pops out to Freddy Zamora on the infield fly rule. Chase Krogman struck out looking. James Beard grounds into a force out, Felix Valerio to Freddy Zamora, Harvin Mendoza out at 2nd.

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