Comeback Falls Short in 7-6 Loss to Kannapolis

Kannapolis 7 @ Carolina 6
August 05, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:02 PM | Att : 3,693 | T : 2:42

KAN: 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 6 0
CAR: 0 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 8 0

WP: Tyson Messer (4 - 3) LP: Alexander Vallecillo (0 - 1) SV: Adisyn Coffey (5)

ZEBULON – Zack Raabe went 2-for-2 with two RBI, Jheremy Vargas had three RBI while going 1-for-4 and relievers Pablo Garabitos and Miguel Guerrero combined to allow just two runs over eight and 2/3 innings, but the Carolina Mudcats came up short while trying to overcome an early deficit while losing 7-6 to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats (16-18, 50-50) found themselves in an immediate hole as starter Alexander Vallecillo allowed five runs and three hits while recording just one out in the first. Vallecillo (0-1) began his outing (his first with the Mudcats) with three straight walks before allowing four straight run-scoring hits. He eventually recorded a strikeout, but eclipsed his pitch limit while totaling 38 pitches and was pulled from the game. Garabitos followed in relief and would go on to record two straight strikeouts while getting Carolina out of the first.

The Cannon Ballers (20-14, 46-54) were up 5-0 after the first and went on to add two more runs in the second while taking a 7-0 lead. Sacrifice flies from Wilfred Veras and Benyamin Bailey accounted for the two Kannapolis runs off Garabitos in the second. Veras also had a RBI single in the first while going 1-for-3 with three RBI. Bailey went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Carolina was down 7-0 going into their half of the second, but would go on to score five runs over the next two innings while pulling within two of the lead. Vargas drove in both Carolina runs in the second with a two-run and two-out single, while a bases loaded walk from Hedbert Perez and a two-run single from Raabe accounted for the three runs in the third.

Both Garabitos and Guerrero helped Carolina rally back while holding the Cannon Ballers without a run from the third through the end of the game. Garabitos worked through four and 2/3 with two runs, three hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Guerrero then pitched the final four innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Kannapolis starter Brooks Gosswein allowed the Vargas single in the second, but was pulled from the game after walking Perez in the third. Campbell product Tyson Messer then took over out of the bullpen and would allow Raabe’s run-scoring hit. Gosswein, however, was charged with runs brought in by Raabe, giving Gosswein five runs allowed on four hits over two and 2/3 innings. Messer (4-3) allowed two inherited runners to score, but ended up going two and 1/3 scoreless overall while earning the win.

The Mudcats eventually pulled within one of the lead while making it 7-6 in the sixth when Raabe walked, stole second, and both moved to third and scored on consecutive groundouts. Reliever Framber Veras walked Raabe in the sixth and would end up allowing a run and walking one while pitching one inning. Liam Jenkins followed with a scoreless seventh and eighth. Finally, Adisyn Coffey (S, 5) pitched the ninth and retired three straight to earn his fifth save.

The loss dropped the Mudcats into a 2-2 tie in the series with the Cannon Ballers. The series will continue on Saturday night with RHP Alexander Cornielle starting for the Mudcats.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Raabe, 2B (Carolina): 2-for-2, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Vargas, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI
Areinamo, SS (Carolina): 2-for-5, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Fernandez, CF (Carolina): 1-for-2, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Veras, W, 3B (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI
Bailey, LF (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Polanco, DH (Kannapolis): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Garabitos (Carolina): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Guerrero (Carolina): 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Messer (W, 4-3) (Kannapolis): 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Jenkins (H, 2) (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Coffey (S, 5) (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:
Cannon Ballers 1st (Cannon Ballers 5, Mudcats 0) -- Andy Atwood walks. Wilber Sanchez walks, Andy Atwood to 2nd. DJ Gladney walks, Andy Atwood to 3rd; Wilber Sanchez to 2nd. Wilfred Veras singles to left-center field, Andy Atwood scores; Wilber Sanchez scores; DJ Gladney to 2nd. Benyamin Bailey doubles to left field, DJ Gladney scores; Wilfred Veras to 3rd. Samil Polanco singles through the hole at second base, Wilfred Veras scores; Benyamin Bailey to 3rd. Wild pitch by Alexander Vallecillo, Benyamin Bailey scores; Samil Polanco to 2nd. Logan Glass strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Pablo Garabitos replaces Alexander Vallecillo. Victor Torres strikes out swinging, Jose Sibrian to Jesus Chirinos. James Beard strikes out swinging.
(5 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 0) -- Andy Atwood singles to right-center field. Wilber Sanchez singles through the hole at second base, Andy Atwood to 2nd. DJ Gladney walks, Andy Atwood to 3rd; Wilber Sanchez to 2nd. Wilfred Veras out on a sacrifice fly to Eduarqui Fernandez, Andy Atwood scores; Wilber Sanchez to 3rd. Benyamin Bailey out on a sacrifice fly to Eduarqui Fernandez, Wilber Sanchez scores. Samil Polanco grounds into a force out, Zack Raabe to Jadher Areinamo, DJ Gladney out at 2nd.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 2nd (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 2) -- Eduarqui Fernandez singles to center field. Hedbert Perez pops out to Wilfred Veras. Zack Raabe walks, Eduarqui Fernandez to 2nd. Jose Sibrian grounds out, Brooks Gosswein to DJ Gladney, Eduarqui Fernandez to 3rd; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas singles through the hole at shortstop, Eduarqui Fernandez scores; Zack Raabe scores; Jheremy Vargas out at 2nd on the throw, Benyamin Bailey to Andy Atwood.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 5) -- Jadher Areinamo singles through the hole at second base. Luis Castillo strikes out swinging. Jesus Chirinos walks, Jadher Areinamo to 2nd. Jeferson Quero strikes out swinging. Eduarqui Fernandez walks, Jadher Areinamo to 3rd; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Hedbert Perez walks, Jadher Areinamo scores; Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Eduarqui Fernandez to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Tyson Messer replaces Brooks Gosswein. Zack Raabe singles to right-center field, Jesus Chirinos scores; Eduarqui Fernandez scores; Hedbert Perez to 2nd. Jose Sibrian flies out to James Beard.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 6) -- Pitcher Change: Frander Veras replaces Tyson Messer. Zack Raabe walks. Zack Raabe advances to 2nd on a balk. Jose Sibrian grounds out, Wilber Sanchez to DJ Gladney, Zack Raabe to 3rd. Jheremy Vargas grounds out, Wilber Sanchez to DJ Gladney, Zack Raabe scores. Jadher Areinamo strikes out swinging, Victor Torres to DJ Gladney.
(1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)