Nine Run First Too Much in 14-2 Loss

KINSTON – The Wood Ducks immediately put things out of reach early while scoring nine runs against Carolina starter Brendan Murphy in the first inning of a 14-2 Down East victory on Saturday night at Grainger Stadium in Kinston. Cody Freeman went 3-for-5 with three runs in the game for the Wood Ducks.

The Mudcats (28-17) saw their lead in the Low-A East Central standings tighten up to 2.5 games with Saturday’s lopsided loss to the Wood Ducks (26-20). The loss also shortened Carolina’s lead in the series to three games to two.

Freeman led the way for the Wood Ducks as he totaled three hits in the game, including a RBI single in the first and a run scored in each of the the first, seventh and eighth innings. Jayce Easley singled, stole two bags and scored twice in the first for Down East. Antonio Cabello also had a two-run single during Down East’s nine-run and five-hit first inning.

Murphy (3-2, 4.71) recorded just one out in his start and left after reaching 36 pitches (15 strikes) in the opening frame. He allowed six of the nine Down East runs in the first and ended up walking four (including two with the bases loaded) and giving up two hits to the seven batters he faced. Reliever Peyton Long followed and went on to allow three more runs before eventually getting Carolina out of the first inning.

Long ended up pitching through three and 2/3 with three runs allowed on three hits. He also walked two and struck out three while holding the Wood Ducks scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings. He later went back out for the fifth, but would end up leaving after seeing a batter reach on an error and walking one.

Kent Hasler followed in the fifth and went on to strand both inherited runners while holding the Wood Ducks scoreless. Hasler later gave up two runs in the sixth, but tossed a scoreless seventh while going through three innings overall. Infielder Ashton McGee pitched the eighth and allowed three runs, including two on a home run from Saggese.

Zavier Warren went 1-for-4 in the loss and extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games. Felix Valerio went 2-for-4 with a double and raised his Milwaukee farm system leading batting average to .335 on the season. Valerio’s double also drove in the only Carolina runs in the game as it scored both Joe Gray Jr. and Freddy Zamora.

Nick Krauth (1-2, 3.44) started and earned the win for the Wood Ducks after holding Carolina to two runs on five hits over six innings pitched. Relievers Marc Church and Joshua Javier worked the final three frames and kept the Mudcats quiet the rest of the way.

The series will conclude on Sunday in Kinston with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.. The Mudcats will send RHP Nick Belzer to the mound as they look for a series victory.

HOME RUNS:
Down East HR : Saggese (3, 7th inning off Hasler, 1 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Valerio, F, DH (Carolina): 2-for-4, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Zamora, SS (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Warren, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Freeman, C (Down East): 3-for-5, 3 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Saggese, 3B (Down East): 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Easley, CF (Down East): 1-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Acuna, SS (Down East): 1-for-5, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Hasler (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
Krauth (W, 1-2) (Down East): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Church (Down East): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Javier (Down East): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

SCORING SUMMARY:
Wood Ducks 1st (Wood Ducks 9, Mudcats 0) -- Jayce Easley singles to shallow center field. Luisangel Acuna pops out to Gabe Holt. Jayce Easley steals 2nd base. Dustin Harris walks. Jayce Easley steals 3rd base, Dustin Harris steals 2nd base. Keyber Rodriguez walks. Cody Freeman singles through the hole at shortstop, Jayce Easley scores; Dustin Harris to 3rd; Keyber Rodriguez to 2nd. Alejandro Osuna walks, Dustin Harris scores; Keyber Rodriguez to 3rd; Cody Freeman to 2nd. Thomas Saggese walks, Keyber Rodriguez scores; Cody Freeman to 3rd; Alejandro Osuna to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Peyton Long replaces Brendan Murphy. Wild pitch by Peyton Long, Cody Freeman scores; Alejandro Osuna to 3rd; Thomas Saggese to 2nd. Antonio Cabello doubles to left field, Alejandro Osuna scores; Thomas Saggese scores. Keithron Moss singles to deep shortstop, Antonio Cabello to 3rd. Keithron Moss steals 2nd base. Jayce Easley walks. Luisangel Acuna reaches on a fielder's choice out, Zavier Warren to Darrien Miller, Antonio Cabello out at home, Keithron Moss to 3rd; Jayce Easley to 2nd. Dustin Harris singles to right field, Keithron Moss scores; Jayce Easley scores; Luisangel Acuna to 3rd. Dustin Harris steals 2nd base, Luisangel Acuna scores;wild pitch by Peyton Long. Keyber Rodriguez strikes out swinging.
(9 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Wood Ducks 9, Mudcats 2) -- Gabe Holt grounds out, Keithron Moss to Dustin Harris. Freddy Zamora walks. Joe Gray Jr. hit by pitch, Freddy Zamora to 2nd. Felix Valerio doubles down the left-field line, Freddy Zamora scores; Joe Gray Jr. scores. Zavier Warren grounds out, Keithron Moss to Dustin Harris, Felix Valerio to 3rd. Joey Wiemer flies out to Antonio Cabello in foul territory.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Wood Ducks 7th (Wood Ducks 11, Mudcats 2) -- Cody Freeman singles up the middle. Alejandro Osuna strikes out swinging. Cody Freeman steals 2nd base. Thomas Saggese hits a home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch, Cody Freeman scores. Antonio Cabello strikes out swinging. Keithron Moss strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Wood Ducks 8th (Wood Ducks 14, Mudcats 2) -- Defensive Substitution: Ernesto Martinez replaces Felix Valerio, batting 4th, playing 1st. Pitcher Change: Ashton McGee replaces Kent Hasler, batting 7th. Jayce Easley grounds out, Gabe Holt to Ernesto Martinez. Luisangel Acuna singles to shallow right field. Randy Florentino pops out to Ernesto Martinez. Keyber Rodriguez walks, Luisangel Acuna to 2nd. Cody Freeman singles to center field, Luisangel Acuna to 3rd; Keyber Rodriguez to 2nd. Alejandro Osuna singles to right-center field, Luisangel Acuna scores; Keyber Rodriguez scores; Cody Freeman to 2nd. Thomas Saggese singles to center field, Cody Freeman scores; Alejandro Osuna to 2nd. Antonio Cabello grounds into a force out, fielded by Zavier Warren, Alejandro Osuna out at 3rd.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)