ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg hit a two-run home run in the fourth and had a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth as the Mudcats won their fourth straight, 3-2 in game one of a four game series versus the Blue Rocks on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.
ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg hit a two-run home run in the fourth and had a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth as the Mudcats won their fourth straight, 3-2 in game one of a four game series versus the Blue Rocks on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.
Erceg went 2-for-3 in the game while leading the Mudcats (52-50, 16-18) to the series and home stand opening victory over Wilmington (56-48, 17-17). His two-run home run in the fourth was his second homer in as many nights and his eleventh overall this season.
Cristian Castillo (6-7, 3.41) started for the Blue Rocks and took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over seven innings pitched. He pitched around a leadoff double from Corey Ray in the first, but went on to allow Erceg's homer in the fourth and lost a 2-2 tie on Erceg's go-ahead RBI single in the sixth.
The Blue Rocks scored twice in Thursday's series opener in Zebulon and did so on solo home runs hit by Travis Maezes (5) and Brandon Downes (10) in the fifth and sixth innings. Both homers were allowed by Carolina's Frank Lopez, but were the only two runs in the game for Wilmington.
Lopez (3-4, 7.94) followed starter Cody Ponce in the third and worked through five innings in relief while earning the victory. He allowed just the two runs on three hits and struck out four in his seventh appearance with the Mudcats since signing with the Brewers as a free agent in June.
Ponce worked the first two frames and struck out three while also allowing two hits and a walk in his first appearance back from a short stint on the short-season Helena Brewers roster. The start was Ponce's first since July 10 in Winston-Salem.
Monte Harrison doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth for the Mudcats. Harrison also had a double in the eighth and was 2-for-4 in the game.
The Mudcats led 3-2 after the sixth and Lopez managed to hold the one run lead through the seventh before Eric Hanhold took over in the eighth. Hanhold (H, 3) walked one and struck out one while working through his scoreless set up frame. Nate Griep later pitched the ninth and earned his league leading 19th save after inducing three straight groundouts to end the game.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats and Blue Rocks will continue the four game series on Friday night with game two of the four game set at Five County Stadium. Right-hander Marcos Diplan (6-6, 5.70) will get the start for the Mudcats in Friday's game and will look to lead his club to its fifth straight victory. Friday's game will be followed by post-game fireworks presented by Sears Home Services. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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