Mudcats Finish Sweep With 11-9 Finale Victory
ZEBULON – Jeferson Quero, Micah Bello and Hedbert Perez each had run scoring doubles in Carolina’s seven run sixth, reliever Israel Puello struck out six over three innings to earn the win, and Trevor Tietz escaped a jam in the ninth while earning his first career save as the Mudcats
ZEBULON – Jeferson Quero, Micah Bello and Hedbert Perez each had run scoring doubles in Carolina’s seven run sixth, reliever Israel Puello struck out six over three innings to earn the win, and Trevor Tietz escaped a jam in the ninth while earning his first career save as the Mudcats wrapped up a series sweep of the Wood Ducks with an 11-9 victory on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.
The Mudcats (3-0) led early with runs in the first and second innings, but fell behind 4-2 in the third when the Wood Ducks (0-3) got home runs from Efrenyer Narvaez and Yosy Galan. Those two homers came off starter Edwin Jimenez in the third and lifted Down East to the early lead. The two sides traded runs in the fifth, but Carolina would go on to flip the game in the sixth after putting together a seven run and seven hit frame.
Carolina’s sixth inning rally started with three straight hits from Jose Sibrian, Alberis Ferrer and Eduardo Garcia. It then continued with a two-run double from Quero, a two-run double from Bello, a Jesus Chrinos sacrifice fly, and a RBI double from Perez. The first three hits, and the first four runs of the inning were allowed by reliever Damian Mendoza (L, 0-1). The next three runs and the final four hits were allowed by reliever Teodoro Ortega.
Quero led the way by going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in the game for the Mudcats. Bello went 1-for-4 with two RBI and his fifth double of the season. Garcia had a RBI double early in the game and went 2-for-5 with two runs and a RBI. Sibrian reached base three times while going 2-for-3 with two runs, two hit-by-pitches, two singles and a RBI. Both of his hits came during Carolina’s seven run sixth inning.
Carolina led 11-5 after the sixth and would later survive a four-run Down East rally in the ninth while holding on for the 11-9 sweep clinching victory. Reliever Jakob Brutoski hit two batters, walked four, allowed four runs, struck out two and gave up one hit in the ninth before leaving the game. Tietz (S, 1) followed and went on to allow just one of his three inherited runners to score before getting a force out to end the game.
Puello (W, 1-0) earned the victory after holding the Wood Ducks scoreless between the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He finished his season debut with six strikeouts, one walk and one hit allowed over three scoreless frames.
HOME RUNS:
Down East: Narvaez (1, 3rd inning off Jimenez, 1 on, 0 out); Galan (1, 3rd inning off Jimenez, 0 on, 2 out).
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Quero, DH (Carolina): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Garcia, E, SS (Carolina): 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Sibrian, C (Carolina): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI
Bello, LF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Narvaez, DH (Down East): 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Galan, LF (Down East): 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Smith, C (Down East): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Paniagua, 2B (Down East): 1-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Puello (W, 1-0) (Carolina): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Garabitos (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Tietz (S, 1) (Carolina): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Santos (Down East): 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Dotson (Down East): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
SCORING:
Mudcats 1st (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 0) -- Eduardo Garcia flies out to Yosy Galan. Jeferson Quero singles through the hole at second base. Jheremy Vargas grounds out to Tucker Mitchell, Jeferson Quero to 2nd. Hendry Mendez singles to right-center field, Jeferson Quero scores. Micah Bello reaches on catcher interference by Brady Smith, Hendry Mendez to 2nd; Micah Bello to 1st;. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging.
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)
Wood Ducks 2nd (Wood Ducks 1, Mudcats 1) -- Yosy Galan grounds out, Alberis Ferrer to Jesus Chirinos. Brady Smith doubles through the hole at shortstop. Derwin Barreto pops out to Eduardo Garcia. Junior Paniagua doubles to left-center field, Brady Smith scores. Daniel Mateo flies out to Micah Bello.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 3, Wood Ducks 1) -- Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging. Jose Sibrian hit by pitch. Alberis Ferrer strikes out swinging. Eduardo Garcia doubles to left field, Jose Sibrian scores. Wild pitch by Winston Santos, Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Jeferson Quero singles to right-center field, Eduardo Garcia scores. Jheremy Vargas pops out to Junior Paniagua.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Wood Ducks 3rd (Wood Ducks 4, Mudcats 3) -- Marcus Smith walks. Efrenyer Narvaez hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch, Marcus Smith scores. Tucker Mitchell grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos. Yenci Pena grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos. Yosy Galan hits a home run to left-center field on a 1-2 pitch. Brady Smith struck out looking.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Wood Ducks 5th (Wood Ducks 5, Mudcats 3) -- Pitcher Change: Pablo Garabitos replaces Edwin Jimenez. Marcus Smith walks. Efrenyer Narvaez strikes out swinging. Tucker Mitchell flies out to Hendry Mendez. Marcus Smith steals 2nd base. Yenci Pena singles through the hole at second base, Marcus Smith scores. Wild pitch by Pablo Garabitos, Yenci Pena to 2nd. Yosy Galan walks. Brady Smith flies out to Micah Bello.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 5th (Wood Ducks 5, Mudcats 4) -- Jeferson Quero struck out looking. Jheremy Vargas hit by pitch. Hendry Mendez reaches on fielding error by Derwin Barreto, Jheremy Vargas to 2nd. Micah Bello strikes out swinging. Jesus Chirinos singles through the hole at second base, Jheremy Vargas scores; Hendry Mendez to 3rd; fielding error by Marcus Smith. Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 2 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 11, Wood Ducks 5) -- Jose Sibrian singles to left-center field. Alberis Ferrer singles to right-center field, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia singles to left-center field, Jose Sibrian to 3rd; Alberis Ferrer to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Teodoro Ortega replaces Damian Mendoza. Jeferson Quero doubles to left field, Jose Sibrian scores; Alberis Ferrer scores; Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Jheremy Vargas walks. Hendry Mendez struck out looking. Micah Bello doubles to right field, Eduardo Garcia scores; Jeferson Quero scores; Jheremy Vargas to 3rd. Jesus Chirinos out on a sacrifice fly to Yosy Galan, Jheremy Vargas scores. Hedbert Perez doubles to right field, Micah Bello scores. Wild pitch by Teodoro Ortega, Hedbert Perez to 3rd. Jose Sibrian singles to deep shortstop, Hedbert Perez scores. Alberis Ferrer walks, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Eduardo Garcia grounds out to Tucker Mitchell.
(7 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Wood Ducks 9th (Mudcats 11, Wood Ducks 9) -- Pitcher Change: Jakob Brustoski replaces Israel Puello. Daniel Mateo hit by pitch. Marcus Smith strikes out swinging. Efrenyer Narvaez strikes out swinging. Tucker Mitchell hit by pitch, Daniel Mateo to 2nd. Yenci Pena hit by pitch, Daniel Mateo to 3rd; Tucker Mitchell to 2nd. Yosy Galan singles to left-center field, Daniel Mateo scores; Tucker Mitchell to 3rd; Yenci Pena to 2nd. Brady Smith walks, Tucker Mitchell scores; Yenci Pena to 3rd; Yosy Galan to 2nd. Derwin Barreto walks, Yenci Pena scores; Yosy Galan to 3rd; Brady Smith to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Trevor Tietz replaces Jakob Brustoski. Junior Paniagua walks, Yosy Galan scores; Brady Smith to 3rd; Derwin Barreto to 2nd. Daniel Mateo grounds into a force out, Jheremy Vargas to Eduardo Garcia, Junior Paniagua out at 2nd.
(4 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)