Gatewood paces Mudcats in 8-5 series opening victory

ZEBULON, N.C. - Jake Gatewood was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs, Lucas Erceg had a game tying two-run double, Wendell Rijo was 2-for-4 and Kodi Medeiros struck out six over five innings out of the bullpen as the Mudcats defeated the Dash 8-5 on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats (16-18) came back from a 3-0 first inning deficit while scoring eight runs between the fourth and sixth innings in their series opening win versus the Dash (12-23) in Zebulon. They also pounded out a season high seven doubles in the game.
Telvin Nash originally put the Dash on the board first, in the first, with a three-run home run off starter Jordan Yamamoto. The home run came in Nash's first at bat of the season and was his first of two run scoring hits in the game. Nash was 2-for-3 with a run and four RBIs in the Winston-Salem loss.
Yamamoto started and pitched through two innings in his first game back from the disabled list. He struck out four, but finished with three runs and three hits allowed over the first two frames. Medeiros (1-3, 4.15) followed and managed to quiet the Dash bats after allowing just one hit over the next five innings. He finished with one unearned run allowed on just one hit and struck out six against two walks.
Carolina trailed 3-0, and had been held without a hit by Dash starter Zach Thompson as they entered the fourth, but Gatewood changed all of that with a lead off double and a run later in the frame. Thompson (1-4, 5.52) gave up two hits and one run in the fourth, but left the inning with the Dash leading 3-1.
Gatewood's double in the fourth stretched his hitting streak to 21 consecutive games and was his first of two doubles in the game. He finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and a RBI.
Nash struck again with a RBI single in the fifth to lift the Dash to a 4-1 lead, but the Mudcats came back with five runs in the same inning to then take a 6-4 lead.
Weston Wilson started the five run Carolina fifth with a walk and later scored on a RBI double to right by Luis Aviles Jr.. Lucas Erceg then tied the game with a two-run double to left and Gatewood followed with a go-ahead double to left to give the Mudcats their first lead of the game.
Thompson left after giving up three straight doubles and after allowing five runs in the fifth. He finished the start allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits over five and 1/3 innings pitched. He also walked two and struck out one in the loss.
The Dash also used relievers Drew Hasler (2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) and Ryan Riga (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) in Friday's series opener. Hasler took over for Thompson in the fifth and Riga finished the game with a scoreless eighth.
Brad Kuntz worked the final two frames for the Mudcats and allowed just one run and two hits while striking out two. He finished the ninth with two men left on after striking out Jeff Gelalich to end the game.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats and Dash will continue their three game series with game two on Saturday night starting at 5:00 p.m. in Zebulon. Cody Ponce will start for the Mudcats while Brannon Easterling will get the start for the Dash. Saturday's game at Five County Stadium will feature Cats and Canes Night presented by the Brain Injury Association of NC, Carry the Flame Across America and The Blood Connection Blood Drive. Cats and Canes night will include appearances by former Carolina Hurricanes NHL stars, as well as appearances by Stormy and the Storm Squad.
Saturday's game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and on MiLB.tv. Coverage will begin at 4:45 p.m. with the Mudcats Pregame Show. 
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