ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg hit a game tying two-run home run in the ninth, Isan Díaz was 3-for-4 with a game tying home run in the fourth, but Buies Creek outfielder Kyle Tucker hit a go-ahead home run in the 12th inning as the Astros outlasted the Mudcats 4-3
ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg hit a game tying two-run home run in the ninth, Isan Díaz was 3-for-4 with a game tying home run in the fourth, but Buies Creek outfielder Kyle Tucker hit a go-ahead home run in the 12th inning as the Astros outlasted the Mudcats 4-3 on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.
Tucker's home run lifted the Astros (18-8) into a 4-3 lead in the 12th inning and was hit off Carolina (10-15) reliever Quintin Torres-Costa. The home run was Tucker's fourth of the season and was a two-out blast that was hit in a 2-2 count. Tucker was 1-for-4 with two RBIs for the Astros.
Torres-Costa (3-1, 4.05) pitched just the one inning in Tuesday's game and suffered his first loss of the season. He followed fellow reliever Freddy Peralta who worked the previous five innings with three runs allowed on two hits. Peralta also matched a career high with nine strikeouts and walked seven in the game.
Tucker also drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the first off starter Marcos Diplan. Buies Creek led 1-0 after one, but Diplan (6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 SO) settled in and held them to just the one run over the next five innings.
Matt Bower (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 SO) started for the Astros and managed to hold the Mudcats scoreless over the first three frames until allowing Diaz's solo home run in the fourth. Diaz also had two doubles in Tuesday's game and his home run was his team leading fifth of the season.
The 1-1 tie held through the seventh until the Astros collected back-to-back triples from Osvaldo Duarte and Arturo Michelena while scoring twice in the seventh off Peralta to take a 3-1 lead.
Deemes (BS, 2-0, 4.50) then took over for reliever Carlos Sierra (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) in the ninth and gave up a double to Diaz before allowing Erceg's game tying home run. Erceg was 2-for-4 and his home run was his second of the season.
The game then went to extras and both Diaz and Erceg were robbed of a chance to drive in the winning run in the 11th inning when they were both intentionally walked to load the bases.
Corey Ray started the 11th with a double and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Troy Stokes Jr. The Astros then put Diaz and Erceg one with intentional walks and Deemes then went on to get Jake Gatewood to pop out and then struck out Trent Clark to end the inning.
Carolina left three on in the 11th and would later see Tucker hit the go-ahead blast in the next inning. The game two win clinched a series victory for the Astros.
NOTES: Jake Gatewood was 1-for-5 and stretched his hitting streak to 12 straight games, one short of matching a career high… Isan Díaz was 3-for-4 and ran his hitting streak to 12 straight games (two shy of a career high). He also hit a home run and has homered in three straight games… Weston Wilson was 1-for-5 and has now hit safely in seven straight games.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats and Astros will wrap up their three game series on Wednesday morning with an 11:00 a.m. Education Day start time. Right-hander Conor Harber will start for the Mudcats against righty Yoanys Quiala and the Astros. The game will be streamed via live audio at carolinamudcats.com and via live video at MiLB.tv
Tickets are available by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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