Gideon Homers in 6-3 Loss to Pelicans

ZEBULON, N.C. - Ronnie Gideon hit a solo home run and Keston Hiura went 3-for-5 with a triple, but the Pelicans received a strong out from starter Tyson Miller and a two double and two RBI game from Wladimir Galindo as they defeated the Mudcats 6-3 on Sunday night at Five County Stadium.

The loss dropped the Mudcats (25-25) back to an even .500 on the season and into a two games to one deficit in their four game series against the Pelicans (22-28). It also came in front of a crowd of 5,259 at Five County Stadium.
Nathan Kirby started for Carolina and worked into the third with just one run allowed on two hits. He also walked two and struck out three while reaching his pitch limit (47 pitches, 26 strikes) over two and 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed a run scoring double to Galindo in the first, but went on to hold the Pelicans without a run while working in to the third.
Carolina came back with an early run of their own in the first after Hiura reached third on a two-out triple, before scoring moments later on a double to left from Weston Wilson. The hit was the first of three in the game for Hiura and turned into his first of two runs scored. Wilson's double meanwhile tied the game at 1-1 and counted for his team leading 12th two-out RBI this season.
Miller (4-4, 3.97) allowed two hits and a run in the first, but went on to hold Carolina without a run over the remainder of his start. He ended up with one run allowed on five hits while working through five innings. He also walked three and struck out four while earning his third victory versus Carolina and his fourth overall on the season.
The Pelicans later broke the early 1-1 tie after getting two unearned runs across in the fourth against reliever Victor Diaz while taking a 3-1 lead in the game. Galindo then helped them increase the lead to 6-1 after driving in one of three runs in the fifth with his second double of the night. Galindo ended up going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in the game for the Pelicans.
Diaz gave up two unearned runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth while taking the loss for Carolina. In all, Diaz allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits over a season high five and 2/3 innings in relief of Kirby. He also walked one stuck out five. Wuilder Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 1 H) later followed and pitched a scoreless ninth while finishing the game for the Mudcats.
The Mudcats did rally back a bit later in the game after getting a run in the sixth on Gideon's fourth home run of the season and then an unearned run in the seventh. Gideon's homer came against reliever Ryan Kellogg (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB) and the unearned run in the sixth came against reliever Jhon Romero (1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO).
Tweet from @CarolinaMudcats: Ronnie rocked this one.Gideon crushes a no-doubter to left in the bottom of the sixth to pull us within four. #MudcatsFUN WATCH: pic.twitter.com/hft6EEVbJH
Wyatt Short later worked part of the eighth and the ninth for the Pelicans while earning the save. Wyatt (S, 3) struck out two and did not allow a hit over the final inning and 1/3 while finishing out the Myrtle Beach victory.
The series will conclude on Monday at Five County Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. The Mudcats trail in the series 1-2 and are currently 4-3 in their eight game home stand. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
# # #