McInerney and Mudcats Walk-Off Pelicans 6-5

ZEBULON, N.C. - Pat McInerney delivered the game-winning blow in the last of the ninth as the Mudcats walked-off the Pelicans 6-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The walk-off win was Carolina's second in three games against the Pelicans and gave them a two games to one lead in the series.

Carolina (18-14, 52-50) had trailed from the very start in Wednesday's morning start, but would later score five unanswered runs form the end of the fifth through the ninth while winning their second game of the four game set.
The Pelicans (13-20, 47-56) originally scored a run in the first and in the third, before getting three runs across in the fifth while taking a 5-1 lead. All five runs were scored off Carolina's starter Victor Diaz as he worked into the fifth with five runs allowed on six hits. Diaz also struck out five and walked two in his start.
The Carolina bullpen took over in the fifth in place of Diaz and would go on to blank the Pelicans over the final half of the game. Phil Bickford was the first arm out of the pen and would turn in two and 1/3 scoreless frames for Carolina. Alec Kenilvort came in for the eighth and ninth and went on to toss two scoreless frames while earning the win. Kenilvort (3-3, 3.63) also scattered just two hits and struck out two in the victory.
Carolina's comeback began with back-to-back run scoring hits from Weston Wilson and Cooper Hummel in the fifth off reliever Ryan Kellogg. Wilson's hit scored Joantgel Segovia after he started the frame with a walk and Hummel's brought in Demi Orimoloye who had earlier reached on a single to right-center.
Kellogg allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over two and 1/3 innings. He originally entered the game in place of starter Erich Uelmen who had worked into the third before leaving the game after allowing a RBI double to Hummel. Uelmen allowed just one run on three hits over two and 2/3 innings in his short start.
Reliever Casey Bloomquist took over for Kellogg in the sixth and worked the remainder of the game while taking the loss. Bloomquist (BS, 3, 2-4, 3.38) began his outing by tossing a scoreless sixth and seventh, but then gave up a run in the eighth and allowed two across in the ninth while suffering the loss.
Carolina's lone eighth inning run was scored by Ryan Aguilar and came after he began the frame with a double to deep right. He then moved to third and scored on consecutive wild pitches lost by Bloomquist. 
Carolina trailed 5-4 heading into their half of the ninth, but went on to win after starting the frame with a one-out single to left-center from Wilson. Hummel then reached on an error to move Wilson to second and put two on for Mario Feliciano. Carolina's catcher then came through with a run scoring RBI double to right-center that scored Wilson to tie the game at 5-5. 
Hummel went to third on Feliciano's double and then scored moments later when the Pelicans intentionally walked Aguilar to load the bases ahead of McInerney's game winning hit. McInerney then ripped a line drive single to left on the first pitch of his at-bat to drive in Hummel as the game winning run.
McInerney went 1-for-4 in the game with a walk and the walk-off RBI. Hummel scored the game winner and went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Wilson went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and a RBI. Aguilar went 1-for-2 with a double and three walks.
The victory lifted the Mudcats to a two games to one lead in the series and clinched a winning record for Carolina in the overall season series. The Mudcats now lead the overall season series 11-9 with Thursday's 7:00 p.m. game in Zebulon both the current and season series finale with the Pelicans.
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 be available via live streaming video at MiLB.tv. Tickets are available by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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