MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Mudcats squeaked out a nine-inning, 2-1 victory in game one, before later losing 2-0 in game two and finished with a split in Saturday's doubleheader against the Pelicans at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Mudcats squeaked out a nine-inning, 2-1 victory in game one, before later losing 2-0 in game two and finished with a split in Saturday's doubleheader against the Pelicans at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach.
The game one victory gave Carolina (33-35) its third win of the series, thus clinchcing a series victory in the first half concluding five game set with the Pelicans (33-35). The game two loss, however, snapped what had become a three game winning streak for the Mudcats and dropped them to 4-3 in the current eight game road trip.
Carolina League All-Star Cam Roegner started for Carolina in game one and had a 1-0 lead until the fourth when he gave up a solo home run to fellow Southern Division All-Star Jhonny Pereda. He ended up working through the fifth with just the one run allowed on four hits. He also struck out two and left before the sixth after reaching 62 pitches (46 strikes).
Ronnie Gideon originally gave the Mudcats a 1-0 lead in the second when he drove in Weston Wilson from first with a two-out double to center off starter Erick Leal. Both Gideon and Wilson had hits in the second, but Leal allowed just four hits overall while working through the fifth with one run allowed. Leal was later followed by reliever Wyatt Short who went on to pitch through three scoreless frames with three strikeouts. Jhon Romero (1-1, 2.73) then pitched the ninth and allowed an unearned run while taking the game one loss.
After Roegner left, the Mudcats went to reliever Alec Kenilvort (2-2, 4.05) for the sixth and the right-hander would go on to work through three scoreless frames while earning his second win of the season after getting the lead in the ninth. He did, however, find some trouble in the seventh after he walked Kevonte Mitchell to start the inning before then allowing Austin Upshaw to reach on an errant throw to first. Upshaw had attempted to reach on a sac bunt, but Kenilvort's wide throw to first sailed into right, allowing Mitchell to third and Upshaw to second.
Carolina then opted to intentionally walk Zach Davis to load the bases with no outs, but they also brought in left-fielder Weston Wilson to play near second as they loaded up the diamond with five infielders. Kenilvort then got Yelier Peguero to hit a fly ball to left that centerfielder Joantgel Segovia raced over to catch near the left-field line. Segovia had been in left-center when Peguero hit is fly ball to shallow left, thus giving Mitchell a small window to attempt a tag at third. Segovia went on to catch the pop up and then throw out Mitchell at the plate for a doubleplay in the seventh, keeping the game tied at 1-1. Kenilvort later escaped the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth before leaving the game with a strikeout, three walks and two hits allowed over three scoreless innings.
Segovia delivered in the clutch again later in the ninth when he forced in the go-ahead with a deep fly ball to right. Pelicans' right-fielder Luis Ayala dropped Segovia's flyball and the resulting error allowed Segovia to reach second and Rob Henry to score from third to give Carolina a 2-1 lead. Henry pinch ran for Cooper Hummel and was the inserted runner put at second for the final extra frame of play.
Barker came on for the ninth and final frame and retired the side in order while earning his fifth save of the season. He also struck out two and needed 14 pitches (10 strikes) to retire the Pelicans quickly to finish off the game one victory.
The second game of Saturday's twin-bill went to the Pelicans, but only after Carolina's starter Alec Bettinger turned in a career night in his Mudcats debut. Bettinger went the distance while totaling a career high 10 strikeouts and allowing just two runs on four hits. Unfortunately, two two runs he allowed proved to be enough as the Carolina offense was shutout out in the game two loss.
D.J. Wilson started game two with a leadoff home run and went 1-for-3 in the game for the Pelicans. Pereda then brought in their second run in the fourth after driving in Andruw Monsaterio from second with a run scoring single to center.
Casey Bloomquist started for the Pelicans and earned the game two win while working through five scoreless frames. He ended up scattering three hits and earned the win after facing only 19 batters over five innings pitched. All-Star reliever Tyler Peyton worked the final two frames with two strikeouts and earned his sixth save for Myrtle Beach.
After splitting the doubleheader, the Mudcats now own a 3-1 lead in the five game set in Myrtle Beach. The series, and first half schedule, will conclude on Sunday night beginning at 6:05 p.m. in Myrtle Beach. RHP Conor Harber (1-3, 2.54) will start for the Mudcats in Sunday's first half and series finale. 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 via live video on MiLB.tv.
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