First-Place Mudcats Fall 9-0 to Columbia

The Mudcats ended up with a 3-3 split in their home series against the Fireflies

Blayberg Diaz - Carolina Mudcats (Credit: Neal Hock)

August 27, 2023

COL: 4 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 9 17 2
CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1

WP: Mauricio Veliz (5 - 6) LP: Will Childers (2 - 4)

ZEBULON, N.C. – Blayberg Diaz extended his hitting streak to 10 games and Jahder Areinamo went 2-for-4, but Columbia’s Trevor Werner homered twice and drove in five runs while leading the Fireflies to a 9-0 rout of the Carolina Mudcats in Sunday’s series finale at Five County Stadium.

The Fireflies (26-28, 61-58) scored four two-out runs in the first before adding four more runs in the fifth and one in the seventh en route to the 9-0 shutout victory. They were led by Werner who hit a three-run homer in the first and a two-run home run in the fifth while going 2-for-5 with two homers and five RBI. Austin Charles also had a big day going 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Brett Squires went 3-for-5 while falling a double shy of the cycle.

Will Childers started for the Mudcats (32-22, 65-52) and allowed both Werner homers and eight runs on 12 hits overall while pitching into the fifth. Childers (L, 2-4) tossed three scoreless frames after giving up the four two-out runs in the first, but gave up two homers and four more hits while allowing four more runs in the fifth. In all, Childers allowed 12 hits and struck out one while being charged with eight runs over four and 1/3 innings.

Mauricio Veliz started for the Fireflies and pitched through seven scoreless innings while earning the victory. Veliz (W, 5-6) scattered five hits, walked one and struck out five while leaving a runner on in all but one inning over his strong outing.

The loss dropped the Mudcats into a 3-3 split in their six-game series with the visiting Fireflies. It also put them at 3-3 in their current 12-game home stand against Columbia and Down East. The first-place Mudcats will continue what is their final homestand of the season on Tuesday against the Wood Ducks with Starry Taco Tuesday beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Zebulon.

HOME RUNS:
Columbia: Werner 2 (5, 1st inning off Childers, 2 on, 2 out, 5th inning off Childers, 1 on, 1 out); Squires (12, 5th inning off Childers, 0 on, 1 out).

STOLEN BASES:
Columbia: Charles 2 (10, 2nd base off Childers/Diaz, 2nd base off Childers/Diaz); Roccaforte 2 (10, 2nd base off Childers/Diaz, 3rd base off Childers/Diaz).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Werner, 3B (Columbia): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Charles, SS (Columbia): 4-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
Squires, 1B (Columbia): 3-for-5, 3 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Salon, C (Columbia): 3-for-4, 1 2B
Areinamo, 3B (Carolina): 2-for-4
O'Rae, CF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Avina, LF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 2B
Diaz, C (Carolina): 1-for-4 (10-game hitting streak)

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Veliz (W, 5-6) (Columbia): 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Novas, E (Columbia): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
Widener (Columbia): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Chavez, J (Carolina): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Pena, Je (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
Wehrle (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:
Fireflies 1st (Fireflies 4, Mudcats 0) -- Lizandro Rodriguez pops out to Blayberg Diaz in foul territory. Carson Roccaforte flies out to Jace Avina. Spencer Nivens singles through the hole at second base. Brett Squires singles to right field, Spencer Nivens to 3rd. Austin Charles singles to deep shortstop, Spencer Nivens scores; Brett Squires to 2nd. Trevor Werner hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch, Brett Squires scores; Austin Charles scores. Jared Dickey grounds out, Daniel Guilarte to Jesus Chirinos. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Fireflies 5th (Fireflies 8, Mudcats 0) -- Carson Roccaforte singles to right-center field. Carson Roccaforte steals 2nd base. Spencer Nivens strikes out swinging. Carson Roccaforte steals 3rd base, Carson Roccaforte scores; throwing error by Blayberg Diaz. Brett Squires hits a home run to right field on a 3-2 pitch. Austin Charles singles to left-center field. Austin Charles steals 2nd base. Trevor Werner hits a home run to right field on a 2-2 pitch, Austin Charles scores. Pitcher Change: Jose Chavez replaces Will Childers. Jared Dickey strikes out swinging. Dionmy Salon singles to right field. Roger Leyton strikes out on foul tip. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Fireflies 7th (Fireflies 9, Mudcats 0) -- Brett Squires triples to right field. Austin Charles singles to right-center field, Brett Squires scores. Trevor Werner struck out looking. Jared Dickey grounds into double play, Daniel Guilarte to Gregory Barrios to Jesus Chirinos, Austin Charles out at 2nd, Jared Dickey out at 1st. (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)