Carolina Totals Eight Hits in 5-0 Loss in Kannapolis

Carolina 0 @ Kannapolis 5

July 08, 2022 | Venue : Atrium Health Ballpark | First pitch : 6:59 PM | Att : 2,363 | T : 2:25

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1

KAN: 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 5 11 1

WP: Liam Jenkins (1 - 0) LP: Edwin Jimenez (2 - 4)

KANNAPOLIS – Starter Edwin Jimenez allowed two, two-run home runs over the first two innings and the Carolina Mudcats offense was shut out for the eighth time this season in a 5-0 loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Friday night at Atrium Health Ballpark. The loss extended Carolina’s current losing streak to three straight games.

The Cannon Ballers (9-4, 35-44) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first after Wilber Sanchez started the opening frame with a single before later scoring on a ground. DJ Gladney then followed with a two-run home run as Kannapolis began things with a three-run and three-hit inning against Jimenez (2-4). James Beard then lifted the Kannapolis lead to 5-0 in the second after connecting on a two-run home run.

Those five runs ended up being more than enough for the Cannon Ballers as Norge Vera, Liam Jenkins, Tyson Messer, Adisyn Coffey and Nick Gallagher combined to hold the Mudcats (6-7, 40-39) scoreless the entire way. Jenkins (1-0) earned the win after turning in two and 1/3 scoreless frames in relief of Vera who started and left in the fourth.

Jimenez took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings. He also walked one and struck out five while reaching 86 pitches (65 strikes) in the loss. Fernando Olguin followed and struck out four with an inning and 2/3 scoreless innings. Jakob Brustoski worked the final inning and a 1/3 with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

Hendry Mendez went 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot for the Mudcats in the loss. He was the only player with a multi-hit game, but was one of seven Carolina players with at least one hit. In all, Carolina totaled eight hits in the loss. Those eight hits were their most in a shutout this season. Their previous high for hits in a game without a run was six and was set on April 28, 2022..

The loss was Carolina’s third straight and dropped them into a 3-1 deficit in the six-game series. The series will continue with game five on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. in Kannapolis.

HOME RUNS:

Kannapolis: Gladney (15, 1st inning off Jimenez, 1 on, 2 out); Beard (4, 2nd inning off Jimenez, 1 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Mendez, RF (Carolina): 2-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

Smelley, C (Kannapolis): 4-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Gladney, 1B (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Bailey, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Beard, CF (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Olguin (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Brustoski (Carolina): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Vera, N (Kannapolis): 3.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

Jenkins (W, 1-0) (Kannapolis): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Messer (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

Coffey (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Gallagher (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING PLAYS:

Cannon Ballers 1st (Cannon Ballers 3, Mudcats 0) -- Wilber Sanchez singles to center field. Wes Kath strikes out swinging, Wilber Sanchez steals 2nd base. Colby Smelley singles to left-center field, Wilber Sanchez to 3rd. Wilfred Veras grounds out, Jesus Chirinos to Edwin Jimenez, Wilber Sanchez scores; Colby Smelley to 2nd. DJ Gladney hits a home run to left field on a 1-2 pitch, Colby Smelley scores. Samil Polanco lines out to Oswal Leones.

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

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 5, Mudcats 0) -- Benyamin Bailey walks. Misael Gonzalez flies out to Hendry Mendez. James Beard hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch, Benyamin Bailey scores. Wilber Sanchez strikes out swinging. Wes Kath flies out to Hendry Mendez.

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