Zamora’s Four-Hit Night Leads Carolina to 5-2 Win

Carolina 5 @ Down East 2

August 14, 2021 | Venue : Grainger Stadium | First pitch : 6:00 PM | Att : 1,520 | T : 3:07

CAR: 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 5 12 1
DE: 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 0

WP: TJ Shook (4 - 1) LP: Nick Krauth (3 - 6)

KINSTON – Freddy Zamora went 4-for-5 with a home run, Felix Valerio went 2-for-5 with two runs, starter TJ Shook turned in his first career quality start and recently signed reliever James Meeker tossed two scoreless innings as the Mudcats defeated the Wood Ducks 5-2 on Saturday night at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.

Zamora, hitting fourth in the lineup for the first time this season, led the way for the Carolina (53-36) offense as he went 4-for-5 with a solo home run in the second and a RBI double in the fifth. He also singled and stole a bag in the fourth and single in the ninth.

Zamora’s steal in the fourth came on a double steal with Felix Valerio taking home to put Carolina up 2-1. His double, meanwhile, in the fifth was the fourth and final hit of a three run and four hit inning for the Mudcats. Andre Nnebe started the fifth with a double before scoring moments later on a RBI single from Sal Frelick. Gabe Holt then brought in Frelick (who also stole second) with a single to left and Zamora followed with his double to lift Carolina to a 5-1 lead.

Down East starter Nick Krauth allowed all five of Carolina’s five runs in the game and took the loss. Krauth (3-6, 4.64) pitched through the fifth and also allowed eight hits in the loss. He was followed by relievers Theo McDowell and Eris Filpo who then combined to work the final four innings with both pitchers recording two strikeouts apiece.

Shook (4-1, 3.86) started and turned in his first quality start of the season while holding the Wood Ducks () to just one run over a career high six innings pitched. With his former college teammate Wes Clarke catching, Shook totaled six strikeouts, walked two and scattered three hits while earning his second straight victory.

Newly signed reliever James Meeker followed Shook and struck out two over two scoreless in his debut as he pitched the seventh and eighth. Robinson then worked the ninth and worked around a run and a hit while finishing the game.

The victory lifted the Mudcats to 2.5 games ahead of the Wood Ducks in the Low-A East Central standings. The victory also staved off a series loss as the Wood Ducks lead the six-game series 3-2. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina HR : Zamora (5, 2nd inning off Krauth, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Zamora, SS (Carolina): 4-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

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

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

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

Acuna, 2B (Down East): 2-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Rodriguez, K, SS (Down East): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Smith, C (Down East): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Shook (W, 4-1) (Carolina): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

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

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

McDowell, T (Down East): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO

Filpo (Down East): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 0) -- Freddy Zamora hits a home run to left-center field on a 0-0 pitch. Noah Campbell grounds out, Yenci Pena to Nick Krauth. Wes Clarke flies out to Daniel Mateo. Ashton McGee strikes out swinging.

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

Wood Ducks 3rd (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 1) -- Jose Acosta hit by pitch. Brady Smith singles to left-center field, Jose Acosta to 2nd. Jose Acosta steals 3rd base, Brady Smith steals 2nd base. Yenci Pena strikes out swinging. Jayce Easley out on a sacrifice fly to Andre Nnebe, Jose Acosta scores; Brady Smith to 3rd. Daniel Mateo strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 2, Wood Ducks 1) -- Felix Valerio doubles to right field. Freddy Zamora singles through the hole at shortstop, Felix Valerio to 3rd. Noah Campbell strikes out swinging, Freddy Zamora to 2nd; Felix Valerio steals home, Freddy Zamora steals 2nd base. Wes Clarke grounds out, Jose Acosta to Yenci Pena. Ashton McGee grounds out, Luisangel Acuna to Yenci Pena.

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

Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 5, Wood Ducks 1) -- Andre Nnebe doubles to right field. Michael Wilson grounds out to Yenci Pena, Andre Nnebe to 3rd. Sal Frelick singles to right-center field, Andre Nnebe scores. Sal Frelick steals 2nd base. Gabe Holt singles to left field, Sal Frelick scores. Felix Valerio grounds into a force out, Jose Acosta to Luisangel Acuna, Gabe Holt out at 2nd. Freddy Zamora doubles to left-center field, Felix Valerio scores. Noah Campbell strikes out swinging.

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

Wood Ducks 9th (Mudcats 5, Wood Ducks 2) -- Pitcher Change: Cam Robinson replaces James Meeker. Keyber Rodriguez singles up the middle. Thomas Saggese grounds into a force out, fielded by Freddy Zamora, Keyber Rodriguez out at 2nd. Angel Aponte flies out to Andre Nnebe. Thomas Saggese steals 2nd base. Jose Acosta reaches on throwing error by Noah Campbell, Thomas Saggese scores; Jose Acosta to 2nd; throwing error by Noah Campbell.

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