Mudcats Fall 11-3 in Road Loss at Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Mudcats allowed 11 runs and 14 hits while falling to the Pelicans 11-3 in game two of a four game series in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday night. Cooper Hummel went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI in the series tying loss for the Mudcats.

The Mudcats (12-7, 46-43) did score first in Tuesday's lopsided loss as they got a run in the second when Hummel singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Dustin Houle. They had a 1-0 lead in the second, but starter Cam Roegner would end up allowing four runs and four hits in that same frame while seeing the Pelicans go up 4-1 early in the game.
Myrtle Beach (41-49, 7-13) first baseman P.J. Higgins started the second with a double before scoring moments later on a two-run double from Roberto Caro. D.J. Wilson and Andrew Monasterio followed with two-out run scoring hits in the second to then extend the Myrtle Beach lead to 4-1. 
Higgins went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, two singles, two runs and three RBI in the game. Wilson went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, Caro drove in two while going 2-for-4, Kevonte Mitchell homered and scored three runs and Jhonny Pereda went 2-for-5 with two RBI in the game for the Pelicans.
Roegner (8-5, 2.38) eventually made his way through the second and ended up pitching through the fourth while reaching 87 pitches (49 strikes). Overall, Roegner struck out one walked three and allowed four runs on six hits in the loss.
Carolina answered the four run Pelicans' second with a run in both the third and sixth innings to close the lead down to 4-3, but Myrtle Beach immediately answered with a six run sixth while running away with the series tying victory.
Relievers Wuilder Rodriguez and Phil Bickford followed Roegner's early departure and would combine to allowed seven runs (two earned) over the final four innings. Rodriguez allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits over and inning an 2/3 and Bickford allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits over an inning and 1/3. Braulio Ortiz pitched the eighth, but was able to hold the Pelicans scoreless and to just one hit.
Rodriguez originally pitched through a scoreless fifth and was able to retire two in the six run Myrtle Beach sixth before leaving the game with an inning and 2/3 behind him. He gave up a leadoff home run Mitchell to start the sixth and later allowed a two-run, ground rule double to Pereda before leaving the game. Bickford allowed Higgins' three-run home run sixth and one other run in the seventh while pitching through an inning and 1/3. 
Hummel paced the Carolina offense in the series tying loss as he went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI. He singled and scored off Myrtle Beach starter Erich Uelmen in the second and had a RBI single off Uelmen (3-1, 3.31) in the third. He also walked and scored against reliever Manuel Rondon in the sixth. 
Rondon (H, 4) worked through two inning with a run allowed and two hits. He also struck out three and walked one. Tyler Peyton also pitched through two innings and was able to hold Carolina scoreless while striking out three and allowing just one hit.
Devin Hairston and Dallas Carroll both stretched their current hitting streaks to seven straight games and Weston Wilson ran his to 11 straight as they all totaled one hit in the game.
The series will continue on Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at TicketReturn.Com Field. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. 
Carolina's next home series begins on Friday, July 13 versus the Lynchburg Hillcats. 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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