Neuhaus and Webb Lead Mudcats to 4-1 Win in Salem

SALEM, VA - Braden Webb struck out eight over six scoreless innings, Tucker Neuhaus went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run and Daniel Brown earned his second save of the season as the Mudcats defeated the Red Sox 4-1 on Wednesday night at Haley Toyota Field in Salem.

Webb (5-5, 3.76) turned in his third quality start of the season after holding the Red Sox (3-3, 35-39) scoreless over six innings pitched. He also struck out eight in the victory; running his overall season total to 74 over 67.0 innings pitched. Webb did end up walking four in the game, but scattered five hits while reaching 98 pitches and earning his second consecutive win.
The game was scoreless through the fourth, but the Mudcats (4-2, 38-38) eventually broke through with two runs and two hits in the fifth against Salem's starter Tanner Houck while taking a 2-0 lead. 
Pat McInerney started the fourth inning rally by reaching on a one-out double to left, before then moving to third on the first of two wild pitches lost by Houck (3-9, 5.16) in the frame. The second wild pitch scored McInerney and came with two outs and with Devin Hairston batting for Carolina. Hairston went on to walk and scored moments later on a run scoring triple off the center field wall hit by Joangtel Segovia.
Leading 2-0 after the fifth, Neuhaus then brought the lead to 3-0 as he clubbed a solo home run to straightaway center off Houck in the sixth. The home run was Neuhaus' seventh of the season and his second of two hits in the game. He also hit a double that hit near the top of the center field wall in the fourth. Neuhaus went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and a strikeout in the game.
Houck remained in the game for one more batter in the sixth and ended working through five and 2/3 innings with three runs allowed on five hits while suffering the loss. He also walked one and struck out seven while reaching 95 pitches (57 strikes). 
Demi Orimoloye scored Carolina's final run of the game in the eighth after starting the frame by being hit by a pitch thrown by reliever Algenis Martinez. Orimoloye then stole second and went on to third after a throwing error by catcher Jordan Porcyshen before scoring moments later on a sacrifice fly from Weston Wilson; giving Carolina the 4-0 lead. Orimoloye also singled to third in the ninth and went 1-for-4 while stretching his hitting streak to six straight games.
The Red Sox scored their first and only run of the game in the eighth and did so after rallying for a run and two hits off reliever Alec Kenilvort. Bobby Dalbec started the eighth with a walk and later scored on a single to right from Ryan Scott to cut the Carolina lead down to 4-1.
Kenilvort (H, 3) originally worked through a scoreless seventh before giving up the lone Salem run in the eighth. In all, Kenilvort pitched through an inning and 2/3 while allowed a run on two hits. He also walked one and struck out three. He remained in the game for most of the eighth, but left after allowing two men to reach with two outs in the inning. Left-hander Daniel Brown then followed while facing the left-handed batting Procyshen and went on to finish the frame with a strikeout.
Brown (S, 2) stranded two inherited runners on base in the eighth and would also leave two on in the ninth while earning a four out save. He worked through an inning and 1/3 overall and finished a walk and two strikeouts.
The Red Sox stranded four men on base over the final two innings and left 13 men on base overall in the game. They also struck out 13 times as Webb totaled eight strikeouts, Kenilvort had three and Brown finished with two.
The Mudcats took a two games to none lead in the series and won their third straight overall after winning Wednesday's game 4-1. The series will continue on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Alec Bettinger (0-1, 2.45) getting the start for Carolina. 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 via live video on MiLB.tv.
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