Mudcats Wrap Up Series Win with 3-2 Victory in Salem

SALEM, VA - Nelson Hernandez struck out six over six innings while working through his second quality start, Payton Henry drove in his 23rd run of the season and Rob Henry brought in the go-ahead with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth as the Mudcats clinched a series victory with a 3-2 win versus the Red Sox on Thursday night at Haley Toyota Field in Salem.

The Mudcats (17-11) scored first in Thursday's victory over the Red Sox (12-15) after Henry drove in a run with a RBI single in the third. Carolina's 1-0 lead, however, disappeared when the Red Sox came back with two hits and two runs of their own in the last half of the third. 
Carolina was down 2-1 through the third, but eventually took the lead when Rob Henry connected on a two-out, two-run single with two on in the fifth. Henry's hit extended his current hitting streak to 10 consecutive games and gave the Mudcats a 3-2 lead midway through Thursday's series finale.
With Carolina up 3-2, Hernandez (4-0, 3.94) went on to toss two scoreless frames while getting through six complete and earning his fourth win of the season. In all, Hernandez struck out six, walked one and allowed two runs on seven hits while pitching through his second quality start and reaching 98 pitches (57 strikes). The Mudcats, meanwhile, improved to 6-0 in games started by Hernandez with Thursday's series clinching win.
Reliever Cody Beckman followed Hernandez and earned his third hold of the year after pitching a scoreless seventh with one hit allowed and one strikeout.
Andrews (S, 2) then worked the eighth and ninth while pitching through his second save of the season. Andrews faced four batters and pitched around a leadoff single in the eighth and struck out the side in the ninth while closing out the victory.
Carolina ended up winning games one, two and four in the series while taking the four game set three games to one. It was their third straight series victory, moving them to 5-1-2 in series played so far this season.
Rob Henry went 1-for-3 with two RBI, Payton Henry was 1-for-3 with a RBI, Pat McInerney doubled while going 1-for-4 and Ryan Aguilar went 1-for-4 while stretching his consecutive games on-base streak to 17 consecutive games.
Jarren Duran, Marco Hernández and Ryan Fitzgerald each had two hits in Thursday's game. Hernandez was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, Fitzgerald was 2-for-4, Duran went 2-for-5 and Pedro Castellanos was 1-for-4 with a RBI for Salem.
Starter Kutter Crawford (1-1, 2.60) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over four and 2/3 innings. He also walked three and struck out eight. Relievers Eduard Bazaordo and Anrdrew Politi followed and combined to pitch through two and 1/3 innings. Bazardo struck out four over two and 1/3 and Politi totaled three strikeouts in two innings pitched.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats will continue their seven game road trip on Friday when they play game one of a three game series versus the Blue Rocks in Wilmington. Carolina will have RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-0, 2.08) on the mound for the game one start. The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
# # #