Mudcats swept after falling 7-1 in Buies Creek

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Astros' starter Cionel Pérez struck out five and allowed just one run over seven innings quality innings while leading Buies Creek to a sweep clinching 7-1 victory over the Mudcats at Jim Perry Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Mudcats (48-50, 12-18) lost four straight in the series against the second half leading Astros (58-42, 21-9) and have now lost five straight overall. The five game losing streak matches Carolina's losing streak of the season. They also lost five straight between July 4 and July 8 earlier this month. The Mudcats also fell to 3-3 in series sweeps this season with the loss.
Perez (1-0, 1.64) started and earned the victory after holding the Mudcats to just one run over seven innings pitched. He also walked one, scattered five hits and struck out five while earning his first Carolina League victory.
Marcos Diplan started for the Mudcats and took the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits over three and 1/3 innings pitched and 81 pitches (46 strikes). He also finished with three walks and five strikeouts before leaving with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Diplan (6-6, 5.70) worked the first two innings with just one run allowed before giving up five runs and five hits during a rain soaked Buies Creek third inning. A heavy down pour fell over Jim Perry Stadium and its artificial field surface during the third, but play was never stopped. The game, however, was delayed slightly before the fourth while the grounds crew worked on drying the mound.
Yordan Alvarez started the five run third with a bunt single before scoring one batter later on a RBI double from Jake Rogers. Taylor Jones followed with a single to score Rogers and then later moved to third when Randy César singled and Spencer Johnson walked to load the bases. Alex DeGoti then drove in two with a ground rule double before Anibal Sierra finished the rally with a sacrifice fly to right.
Alvarez went 4-for-5 with a triple and a run for the Astros in the Sunday victory. Cesar was 2-for-3 with two runs and DeGoti was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Buies Creek led 6-0 after the third before the Mudcats answered back with a run in the fourth when Lucas Erceg drove in Isan Díaz with a sacrifice fly to right. Diaz singled earlier in the inning and moved to third on a single from Jake Gatewood before scoring on Erceg's fly out.
Diaz was 1-for-4 with a run in the game for the Mudcats. Erceg had the only RBI and Gatewood was 2-for-4 with a double. Gatewood's double in the sixth brought his season total to a team high 32 on the season.
The Astros led 7-1 after the fourth and neither side went on to score again in the game. 
Berberet pitched the end of the fourth and remained in the game through the seventh while working through three and 2/3 scoreless. He also allowed an inherited runner in the fourth, walked two and struck out three out of the Carolina bullpen.
Brad Kuntz later pitched the eighth and retired the side in order while striking out one.
Justin Ferrell followed Perez and managed to strikeout six straight while finishing the game for the Astros.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats will look to end their five game losing streak with a victory in game one of a three game series on Monday night in Myrtle Beach against the Pelicans. Jordan Yamamoto (2-3, 3.10) will start for the Mudcats in Monday's series opener in Myrtle Beach at TicketReturn.com Field. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
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