Mudcats Lose Late Lead in 3-2 Loss to Nationals

ZEBULON, N.C. - Carolina scored two early runs in the second on RBI hits from Dallas Carroll and Nick Roscetti, but reliever Rodrigo Benoit later lost a one-run lead in the eighth as the Mudcats fell to Potomac 3-2 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. 

Benoit (S, 1) allowed two runs and three hits in the eighth while losing a 2-1 lead and suffering his second blown save in just his third appearance with Carolina (59-64, 25-28). The Nationals (64-56, 27-26) trailed from the second through the seventh before rallying for two runs in the eighth to win Saturday's game and even the series at a game apiece.
Alec Bettinger started the game for Carolina and worked around a one hour and six minute rain delay while pitching through four innings in all. Bettinger allowed just one run and scattered four hits while striking out five in his start. Four of his five strikeouts came over the first two innings, with the fourth occurring just as the heavy rained arrived and forced the long delay in the middle of the second inning.
Potomac's starter Joan Baez also returned to the mound following the long rain delay. Baez, however, would immediately walk two batters and allow two Carolina runs when the game resumed. Baez left after the second with three walks, two hits and two runs allowed over two innings pitched.
Both Weston Wilson and Cooper Hummel led off the Carolina second with walks and both later scored on the run scoring hits Carroll and Roscetti respectively. Wilson went 1-for-3 with a run and RBI in the game for the Mudcats. Carroll also went 1-for-3 with a RBI, Roscetti was 1-for-2 with a run-scoring hit and Joantgel Segovia went 2-for-5.
Carolina had a 2-0 lead after the second and Bettinger went on to hold that lead through the third before allowing a run on a Jakson Reetz sacrifice fly in the fourth. The Mudcats led 2-1 when Bettinger departed and Cody Beckman took over out of the bullpen. Beckman held that 2-1 lead through the seventh as he turned in three scoreless frames in place of Carolina's starter. Beckman also struck out four, walked two and held the visiting Nationals without a hit.
Benoit then took over in the eighth and was greeted by three straight Potomac hits and ended up allowing two runs in as the Nationals took their first lead of the game. Benoit eventually settled in and worked the rest of the eighth without allowing another run and then pitched through a scoreless ninth while finishing the game. 
The Mudcats scored just twice in the loss, with both runs coming against the starter Baez. Relievers Taylor Guilbeau, Hayden Howard and Jacob Condra-Bogan combined on seven scoreless frames while leading Potomac to the come-from-behind road win. 
Guilbeau walked two, struck out one and scattered two hits over three and 1/3 scoreless innings. Howard (3-1, 2.75) earned the win after waling three, but holding Carolina without a run over two innings. Condra-Bogan (S, 1) then picked up his first save of the season after working through and inning and 2/3 with two strikeouts to finish the game.
Carolina hit into three double plays and stranded 10 men on base while going 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the loss. Potomac went just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, but ended up with the victory as they tied the series at a 1-1. The series finale is set for Sunday with the first pitched at 2:00 p.m. in Zebulon.
Tickets are available by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon. 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 live via video on MiLB.tv.
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