Aguilar's career high 5 RBI night leads Mudcats to 7-6 win versus Fayetteville

ZEBULON, N.C. - Ryan Aguilar doubled in two runs in the third, broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth with a three-run home run and went 2-for-4 with two runs all while totaling a career high 5 RBI while leading the Mudcats to a 7-6 victory versus Fayetteville on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium. Mario Feliciano also homered in the game and Julio Garcia went 2-for-3 as the Mudcats snapped a four-game losing streak with the series tying win against the Woodpeckers.

The Mudcats (7-6) trailed 3-0 in the third before Aguilar helped them back into the game with his run scoring double off Fayetteville (8-5) starter Chad Donato. The double scored both Garcia and Joantgel Segovia and brought Carolina within one of the lead. A two-out RBI single from Payton Henry moments later scored Aguilar to tie the game at 3-3.
Carolina's three run third began with Garcia reaching on a double to straight-away center off Donato (1-1, 11.88). The double was Garcia's first of two hits in the game and accounted for his first two hits of the season. Garcia was 0-for-18 to start the season before going 2-for-3 on Tuesday night.
The game was tied 3-3 heading into the Carolina half of the fourth, but that's when Aguilar gave the Mudcats the lead with his three-run blast to right. The home run was his first of the season and was a no-doubter to straight-away right. 
Donato left the game after Aguilar's home run and ended up allowing six earned runs on five hits over three and 2/3 innings while taking the loss for Fayetteville. Donato also walked three and struck out four.
Nelson Hernandez started for the Mudcats and allowed three runs and six hits over six innings while earning the victory. Hernandez (2-0, 3.24) also walked a couple and struck out four in what was his third start of the season.
The Mudcats added to their lead in the fifth when Feliciano connected on an opposite field home run to right off reliever Joey Gonzalez. Feliciano's homer was his first of the season and his second hit of the game as he went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. 
Gonzalez allowed just the one run in Tuesday's game and pitched through three innings with three hits allowed and four strikeouts. He was later followed by Tommy DeJuneas who worked the final inning and a 1/3 with a strikeout and one hit allowed.
The Mudcats led 7-3 going into the ninth, but the Woodpeckers went on to score three runs in the final frame to pull within one of the lead. They originally began the final frame with two quick outs while facing reliever Matt Hardy, but went on to collect three straight two-out hits while scoring twice and forcing Carolina to go back to their bullpen. 
Rodrigo Benoit followed Hardy and ended up allowing an inherited runner to score before finishing the game with a strikeout of Colton Shaver with two men on base.
Hardy ended up allowing three runs on three hits while recording just two outs in the game. Benoit (S, 3) needed to face three batters to get the final out of the game and to seal his third save of the season.
Michael Petersen was the first Carolina reliever to enter the game. He came in for Hernandez in the seventh and worked through two scoreless frames with two strikeouts and one walk.
Seth Beer had a two-run double and went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run overall for the Woodpeckers in the loss. Jake Adams had a run scoring hit in the third and a run scoring hit in the ninth while going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Adams also had four hits in game of the series and has totaled seven hits over two games versus Carolina this year.
Carolina's victory evened the series at a game apiece with the finale scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Mudcats will send newly promoted starter RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-0, -.--) to the mound for the Wednesday morning start against the Woodpeckers. The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, Praise City Radio 1490 AM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream live in full HD video on MiLB.tv. 
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