Carolina Drops Series Opener 3-2 Despite Webb's Gem

ZEBULON, N.C. - Braden Webb struck out eight over six scoreless innings and Ryan Aguilar hit a solo home run in the second, but the Mudcats lost a 2-0 lead in the seventh while falling to the Hillcats 3-2 on Monday night at Five County Stadium.

Webb ended up with a no-decision in Monday's series opener, but did so after turning in one of his best starts of the year. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed one hit over six scoreless frames. Webb also reached 93 pitches (54 strikes) while pitching to a season high game score of 78.
Carolina (54-57, 20-21) led 2-0 when Webb left the game, but that lead quickly slipped away when Lynchburg's Tyler Friis tied the game with a two-run, two-out single off reliever Alec Kenilvort in the seventh. Friis then later broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth with another two-out run scoring hit off reliever Cody Beckman. Friis finished the game going 2-for-4 with three RBI in the series opening victory for Lynchburg (53-57, 24-19).
Kenilvort (BS, 6) worked just the one inning and allowed two runs and two hits while reaching 35 pitches and suffering his sixth blown save of the season. Beckman (0-2, 7.00) pitched a scoreless eighth, but took the loss after allowing Friis' go-ahead hit in the ninth. In all, Beckman walked two, struck out two and allowed a run on two hits in the loss.
Dalbert Siri (S, 8) picked up the save after striking out the side in the ninth and Nick Sandlin (1-0, 4.50) earned up the win after holding Carolina scoreless in the eighth. 
The Mudcats originally led 2-0 in the game after getting Aguilar's fifth home run of the season in the second and a run scoring single from Demi Orimoloye in the fifth. 
Anderson Polanco started for the Hillcats and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings pitched. Ben Krauth followed and finished with three walks and three strikeouts while pitching a scoreless sixth and seventh.
The loss was Carolina's league high 14th when leading after the sixth inning. It was also their third loss of their current six game home stand. 
The home stand will continue on Tuesday with a de facto doubleheader featuring the resumption of a previously suspended game and then a nine-inning game beginning no earlier than 7:00 p.m. The first game of Tuesday's modified twin bill will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Carolina leading 5-0 in the sixth inning.
Tickets are available by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream live via video on MiLB.tv.
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