Castillo Lifts Mudcats to 5-4 Victory With Clutch Hit
ZEBULON – Daniel Castillo lifted the Mudcats to a 5-4 victory over Fayetteville after coming through with a three-run single with two-outs in the eighth on Friday night at Five County Stadium. Reliever Cam Robinson then finished the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the ninth as Carolina won its second
ZEBULON – Daniel Castillo lifted the Mudcats to a 5-4 victory over Fayetteville after coming through with a three-run single with two-outs in the eighth on Friday night at Five County Stadium. Reliever Cam Robinson then finished the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the ninth as Carolina won its second straight game to take a three games to one lead in the series.
The Mudcats (24-15) trailed 4-2 heading into the eighth, but managed to load the bases ahead of Castillo’s clutch single off Fayetteville (15-24) reliever Ernesto Jaquez. Jaquez (BS, 2) entered the game with the bases loaded and struck out Alex Hall before giving up Castillo’s eventual game-winning hit. Reliever Luis Vega started the eighth and ended up with the loss after allowing three runs over an inning and 1/3. Vega (1-2, 6.75) originally pitched a scoreless seventh before leaving the game with three men on in the eighth.
Joe Gray Jr. started the Carolina eighth with a hustle double to left and was the first to score on Castillo’s go-ahead single. Felix Valerio and Joey Wiemer also walked and scored on the Castillo hit while Carolina took the late lead. Gray went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in the game. Valerio was held without a hit, but did reach base safely after his walk in the eighth. His hitting streak came to an end at 12 straight, but his on base streak stretch to 26 consecutive games. Wiemer went 1-for-3 and his lone run ended up being the eventual game winner in the eighth.
The game was originally scoreless over the first three innings, but it was Carolina that led first after Hall brought in the game’s first run with a sac fly in the fourth. That run came against Fayetteville starter Brayan De Paula and would be the first of two runs scored against De Paula by the Mudcats. De Paula ended up with a no-decision while allowing just two runs on three hits over four and 1/3.
Fayetteville answered with a run in the fifth to tie it at 1-1 when Shay Whitcomb homered off Carolina’s starter Brendan Murphy. Whitcomb had hits in each of his first three at bats and went 3-for-4 with a home run and a RBI in the Fayetteville loss. Murphy, meanwhile, allowed just the one run and allowed nine over five innings pitched.
Carolina went on take a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Gabe Holt walked, moved to third on a single from Freddy Zamora and scored on a wild pitch. That lead disappeared in the sixth though when reliever Kent Hasler entered and gave up a run on a double by Zach Daniels.
Daniels struck again in the seventh when he put the Woodpeckers up 4-2 with a bases loaded double. That double came against Robinson and was his first batter faced. Robinson eventually finished the eighth and earned the win after leaving two on in the ninth and finishing with back-to-back strikeouts.
The series continues on Saturday night with Carolina sending RHP Nick Belzer to the mound for the start. Tickets are available at www.carolinamudcats.com and at 919-269-2287.
HOME RUNS:
Fayetteville HR : Berryhill (4, 5th inning off Guerrero, 1 on, 1 out).
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Whitcomb, SS (Fayetteville): 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI
Arias, DH (Fayetteville): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Berryhill, C (Fayetteville): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Valerio, F, 2B (Carolina): 1-for-1, 2 R, 1 RBI
Holt, 3B (Carolina): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI
Gray Jr., CF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R
Cipion, LF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Begue (Carolina): 4 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
Guerrero (W, 2-0) (Carolina): 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Uribe (S, 2) (Carolina): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
Betances (Fayetteville): 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Taveras (L, 0-2) (Fayetteville): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Holcomb (Fayetteville): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
SCORING PLAYS:
Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 1, Woodpeckers 0) -- Felix Valerio grounds out, Yeuris Ramirez to Bryan Arias. Ernesto Martinez hit by pitch. Joey Wiemer singles to shallow left field, Ernesto Martinez to 2nd. Wild pitch by Brayan De Paula, Ernesto Martinez to 3rd; Joey Wiemer to 2nd. Alex Hall out on a sacrifice fly to Kenedy Corona, Ernesto Martinez scores. Daniel Castillo flies out to Kenedy Corona.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Woodpeckers 5th (Woodpeckers 1, Mudcats 1) -- Shay Whitcomb hits a home run to left-center field on a 1-0 pitch. J.C. Correa grounds out, Daniel Castillo to Ernesto Martinez. Jordan Brewer grounds out, Gabe Holt to Ernesto Martinez. Bryan Arias singles to right-center field. Nerio Rodriguez singles to center field, Bryan Arias to 2nd. Bryan Arias steals 3rd base, Nerio Rodriguez steals 2nd base. Luke Berryhill lines out to Daniel Castillo.
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 2, Woodpeckers 1) -- Andre Nnebe strikes out swinging. Gabe Holt walks. Freddy Zamora singles to left field, Gabe Holt to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Freylin Garcia replaces Brayan De Paula. Joe Gray Jr. flies out to Kenedy Corona. Gabe Holt advances to 3rd on a balk; Freddy Zamora advances to 2nd on a balk. Wild pitch by Freylin Garcia, Gabe Holt scores; Freddy Zamora to 3rd. Felix Valerio pops out to Bryan Arias in foul territory.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Woodpeckers 6th (Woodpeckers 2, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Kent Hasler replaces Brendan Murphy. Zach Daniels doubles to center field. Wild pitch by Kent Hasler, Zach Daniels to 3rd. Yeuris Ramirez strikes out swinging. Kenedy Corona singles to right-center field, Zach Daniels scores. Wild pitch by Kent Hasler, Kenedy Corona to 2nd. Shay Whitcomb flies out to Joey Wiemer. J.C. Correa strikes out swinging, Alex Hall to Ernesto Martinez.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Woodpeckers 7th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 2) -- Jordan Brewer singles to deep shortstop. Bryan Arias reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Freddy Zamora. missed catch error by Gabe Holt, assist to Freddy Zamora. Nerio Rodriguez grounds out, Freddy Zamora to Ernesto Martinez, Jordan Brewer to 3rd; Bryan Arias to 2nd. Luke Berryhill walks. Pitcher Change: Cam Robinson replaces Kent Hasler. Zach Daniels doubles to right-center field, Jordan Brewer scores; Bryan Arias scores; Luke Berryhill out at home on the throw, Joe Gray Jr. to Gabe Holt to Alex Hall. Yeuris Ramirez grounds out, Daniel Castillo to Ernesto Martinez.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 5, Woodpeckers 4) -- Joe Gray Jr. doubles to left-center field. Felix Valerio walks, Joe Gray Jr. to 3rd;wild pitch by Luis Vega. Ernesto Martinez strikes out on foul tip, Felix Valerio steals 2nd base. Joey Wiemer walks. Pitcher Change: Ernesto Jaquez replaces Luis Vega. Alex Hall strikes out swinging. Daniel Castillo singles to left field, Joe Gray Jr. scores; Felix Valerio scores; Joey Wiemer scores. Daniel Castillo steals 2nd base. Andre Nnebe strikes out swinging.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)