Mudcats Suffer Third Walk-Off Loss in Last Four Games

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Keston Hiura hit a two-run home run in the second, Ryan Aguilar and Weston Wilson had ground rule doubles in the first, but reliever Chase Williams walked three in the ninth and gave up a walk-off hit to Jhonny Pereda as the Pelicans defeated the Mudcats 5-4 on Tuesday night in Myrtle Beach.

The Mudcats (11-14) led 4-0 after the second, and were up 4-2 heading into the ninth before the Pelicans (10-15) rallied back while handing the Mudcats their third walk-off loss in their last four games. It was also Carolina's fifth consecutive loss overall and fourth straight during the current six game road trip.
Pereda's game-winner came with the bases loaded and brought in Daniel Spingola, Aramis Ademan and Andruw Monasterio, who were all walked in the inning by Williams (2-3, 6.75). Williams also pitched parts of the ninth during Carolina's walk-off losses on April 27 and April 28 in Kinston against the Down East Wood Ducks.
Carolina's pitching staff combined to walk 11 batters in the loss, while raising their Minor League Baseball walk total to 132 over 25 games this season.
The Mudcats originally led 2-0 in the first inning after Aguilar started the game with a lead-off ground rule double before scoring on a RBI single from Tucker Neuhaus. Weston Wilson later added a run scoring ground rule double of his own as Carolina scored twice in the opening frame off starter Keegan Thompson.
Hiura then added to the Carolina lead with a two-run home run in the second as the Mudcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Thompson and the Pelicans. The home run was Hiura's second of the season and scored Aguilar who had singled earlier in the inning. Neuhaus followed with a triple as the Mudcats totaled four extra-base hits and six total hits over the two innings off Thompson.
Aguilar led the Mudcats by going 3-for-5 with a double and two runs. Hiura went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Neuhaus went 2-for-5 with a triple, a run and one RBI and Wilson went 1-for-4 with a RBI double while running his hit streak to six straight games.
Thompson eventually settled in after the second and went on to pitch through the fifth while striking out seven, walking one and giving up seven hits. He was followed by Tyler Peyton who struck out three while holding Carolina without a run on three hits. Jordan Minch (1-0, 4.76) later worked the eighth and ninth and earned the win after striking out three over two scoreless and hitless frames.
Nathan Kirby started for Carolina and worked into the third before leaving the game after reaching his pitch limit. He walked three overall, including his only batter faced in the third, and struck out three over two plus innings. 
Victor Diaz followed Kirby and went on to pitch through the seventh. He allowed an inherited runner to score and allowed a home run in the sixth, but gave up just the one run of his own despite walking five over four and 1/3 innings pitched. 
Diaz left in the seventh and gave way to Alec Kenilvort who went on to strand two inherited runners while working through a jam and holding Carolina's 4-2 lead. He also pitched a scoreless eighth and pitched through and inning and 2/3 with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
The Mudcats led in the game from the first all the way through the eighth and into the ninth before falling in walk-off fashion. Carolina has now suffered five walk-off losses overall this season.
The Pelicans took a 1-0 lead in the three game series with Tuesday's series opening victory. Game two of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach. The Carolina League's earned run average leader LHP Cam Roegner (2-0, 0.83) will start for the Mudcats against RHP Tyson Miller (2-2, 3.15) and the Pelicans on Wednesday night.
The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
# # #