ZEBULON, N.C. - Keston Hiura hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the fifth, Clint Coulter went 2-for-5 with his seventh double of the year and reliever Miguel Sanchez struck out five over three and 1/3 innings, but the Mudcats fell 8-4 to the Buies Creek Astros on Thursday night
ZEBULON, N.C. - Keston Hiura hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the fifth, Clint Coulter went 2-for-5 with his seventh double of the year and reliever Miguel Sanchez struck out five over three and 1/3 innings, but the Mudcats fell 8-4 to the Buies Creek Astros on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.
Hiura's home run was his first of the season and gave the Mudcats (8-7) a 4-2 lead in the fifth, but the Astros (10-5) answered back with four runs in the seventh and two in the ninth while running away with the series opening victory.
Ronnie Dawson and Chuckie Robinson each had two hits and both homered in the game for Buies Creek as they won their sixth straight game. Robinson's home run broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh and came right after Osvaldo Duarte tied the game with a run scoring triple to right. Duarte went 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Astros as they won their sixth straight game.
All four seventh inning runs were allowed by Mudcats' reliever Nattino Diplan, who suffered both the loss and blown save. Diplan (1-1, 12.71) gave up a total of four runs on four hits and struck out two in the loss. Daniel Brown worked the final two innings and gave up two runs (one earned) and two hits over the eighth and ninth innings. He also walked two and struck out one while finishing the game.
The Mudcats led first in the game after getting a run scoring single from Max McDowell in the second off Buies Creek starter Brandon Bailey, Cam Roegner, however, lost the lead in the third after allowing Dawson's home run and a run scoring infield hit to Kristian Trompiz.
Roegner departed the game in the third and finished with two runs allowed on five hits over two and 2/3 innings. Sanchez followed and worked Carolina out of a bases loaded jam while finishing the third. He then went on to pitch through the next three innings without allowing a run and struck out five before giving way to Diplan in the seventh.
Bailey, after getting the 2-1 lead, settled in and went on to total nine strikeouts over four innings before leaving the game. Bailey also walked three and allowed two runs on five hits in his four-inning start.
Reliever Jesus Balaguer followed Bailey in the fifth and ended up losing the lead as he gave up three Carolina runs on four hits. Dallas Carroll led off the fifth with a single and then scored moments later on Hiura's home run. Tucker Neuhaus followed with a single off the right field wall, Ronnie Gideon walked and then Coulter picked up a RBI double as the Mudcats came back to take a 4-2 lead.
Balaguer left the game after allowing three Carolina runs in the fifth and Carson LaRue would follow out of the Buies Creek bullpen. LaRue (1-0, 0.00) went on to earn the win after holding Carolina scoreless through the remainder of the game. He finished his outing with four strikeouts, two walks and three hits allowed while earning the victory.
The Mudcats left nine men on base, went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and struck out 14 times in the loss. They also allowed six stolen bases and lost two different leads.
The series and home stand continues for the Mudcats on Friday night with game two scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start at Five County Stadium. RHP Braden Webb (1-1, 5.14) will start in Friday's game for the Mudcats, LHP Brett Adcock (1-0, 2.16) will start for the Astros.
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.
# # #
