Ponce tosses first career CG in 7-2 game one victory

KINSTON, N.C. - Isan Díaz hit a grand slam in the fifth and Cody Ponce pitched seven full innings while working through his first career complete game as the Mudcats defeated the Wood Ducks 7-2 in game one of a doubleheader at Grainger Stadium in Kinston on Wednesday afternoon.

Ponce (5-3, 3.26) struck out two, scattered seven hits and allowed just two runs over his seven inning complete game. The victory was hit third straight and his seven inning effort marked the seventh time (out of nine starts) where he was able to get through seven full innings in an outing. 
Diaz was 1-for-3 and his grand slam in the fifth counted for his team leading eighth home run of the season. The grand slam was also Carolina's first of the season and it capped what was a five run fifth for the Mudcats (25-20) in their series opening victory against the Wood Ducks (17-28).
Trent Clark started the fifth with a lead off single and Luis Aviles Jr. followed with a double before Weston Wilson came through with a RBI single to left. Corey Ray then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Troy Stokes Jr. had a single to then load the bases for Diaz before his home run to right.
The Mudcats collected all six runs and five hits in the fifth off Down East starter Emerson Martinez. They also scored once against Martinez (0-5, 6.83) in the third when Aviles scored from first on a double to left from Cooper Hummel. 
Martinez allowed seven earned run on eight hits over five innings and took the loss. He also walked one and struck out four for Down East in game one.
Aviles was 2-for-3 with two runs, Diaz was 1-for-3 with a grand slam and four RBIs. Hummel was 1-for-2 with a RBI double and Wilson was 1-for-3 with a RBI single in the Carolina victory.
Reliever Scott Williams later worked the final two innings for the Wood Ducks and retired all six that he faced in consecutive order.
# # #