Valerio Accounts for Four of Six Runs in 6-2 Victory
KANNAPOLIS – Felix Valerio drove in two with a RBI double in the third and homered in the sixth while directly accounting for four of Carolina’s six runs in a 6-2 series finale victory versus the Cannon Ballers in Kannapolis on Sunday afternoon. Andre Nnebe also had a two-run single
KANNAPOLIS – Felix Valerio drove in two with a RBI double in the third and homered in the sixth while directly accounting for four of Carolina’s six runs in a 6-2 series finale victory versus the Cannon Ballers in Kannapolis on Sunday afternoon. Andre Nnebe also had a two-run single in eighth and Nick Belzer earned his second victory as the Mudcats left with a series split in Kannapolis.
Carolina (21-14) ended up winning the opening game of the six-game series on Tuesday night, but lost three straight before leaving with two straight wins including Sunday’s finale while finishing at 3-3 in Kannapolis. The Cannon Ballers (7-28) out hit the Mudcats in Sunday’s game and homered twice, but ended up leaving the bases loaded in the ninth while suffering their second straight loss.
The game was scoreless until the third when Valerio broke the tie with a two-run double that scored both Gabe Holt and Freddy Zamora from second and first respectively. Valerio then scored two batters later on a double steal with Valerio taking home and Ernesto Martinez – who had singled after Valerio’s double – taking second. Martinez went 2-for-4 on Sunday in what was his first game. back since being ejected one week prior on Sunday, June 6.
Valerio went 2-for-3 with a home run, a two-run double and two runs for Carolina. Valerio also ran his current hit streak to nine straight games, matching his season high set from May 21 through May 30. Valerio has additionally hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games since May 21.
A home run by Jose Rodriguez in the last of the third cut the Carolina lead to 3-1, but Valerio answered with his solo shot in the sixth. Kannapolis’ Chase Krogman then homered to make it 4-2, but those two runs were all that Belzer (2-1, 4.41) allowed in his start.
Belzer earned his second victory in just his third start and did so by holding the Cannon Ballers to two runs (two homers) on seven hits over six innings pitched. He also walked two and struck out two.
Relievers Joey Matulovich and Abner Uribe would work the rest of the game after Belzer departed. Matulovich worked a scoreless seventh and Uribe held the Cannon Ballers scoreless over the eighth and ninth. Uribe, however, did end up waking four, but left two men on in the eighth and escaped a bases loaded jam in the ninth to finish the game. Uribe ended the game with a strikeout and totaled three strikeouts overall.
The Mudcats did get some insurance to work with late as Nnebe singled in two runs with the bases loaded in the eighth. That run scoring hit lifted Carolina to the 6-2 lead and was Nnebe’s second run scoring with the bases loaded in as many games and days.
Bailey Horn took the loss for the Kannapolis after allowing three unearned runs over four innings. Jesus Valles and Marcus Evey also allowed runs with Valles allowing Valerio’s home run and Evey giving up Nnebe’s run scoring single.
The Mudcats closed the series with two straight wins and next play at home on Tuesday night versus the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Tuesday will feature a free poster giveaway for the first 200 fans at Five County Stadium. Tickets are available at www.carolinamudcats.com and at 919-269-2287.
HOME RUNS:
Carolina HR : Valerio, F (3, 6th inning off Valles, 0 on, 0 out).
Kannapolis HR : Rodriguez, J (5, 3rd inning off Belzer, 0 on, 0 out); Krogman (3, 6th inning off Belzer, 0 on, 0 out).
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Valerio, F, 2B (Carolina): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Martinez, E, 1B (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Nnebe, LF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Rodriguez, J, SS (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Krogman, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Polanco, 2B (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Belzer (W, 2-1) (Carolina): 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Matulovich (H, 1) (Carolina): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
Uribe (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO
Horn (L, 0-2) (Kannapolis): 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Mikel (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
SCORING PLAYS:
Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 3, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Andre Nnebe reaches on fielding error by Lency Delgado. Gabe Holt grounds into a force out, Jose Rodriguez to Samil Polanco, Andre Nnebe out at 2nd. Freddy Zamora reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Lency Delgado, Gabe Holt to 2nd. Joe Gray Jr. struck out looking. Felix Valerio doubles to right field, Gabe Holt scores; Freddy Zamora scores. Ernesto Martinez singles to left field, Felix Valerio to 3rd. Ernesto Martinez steals 2nd base, Felix Valerio steals home, Ernesto Martinez advances to 3rd on throwing error by Samil Polanco. Zavier Warren flies out to James Beard.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors, 1 LOB)
Cannon Ballers 3rd (Mudcats 3, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Jose Rodriguez hits a home run to left-center field on a 0-0 pitch. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter DJ Gladney replaces Lency Delgado. DJ Gladney singles to right-center field. Bryan Ramos walks, DJ Gladney to 2nd. Chase Krogman strikes out swinging. Caberea Weaver flies into double play, Joey Wiemer to Freddy Zamora to Ernesto Martinez, DJ Gladney to 3rd; Bryan Ramos out at 2nd.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Felix Valerio hits a home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch. Ernesto Martinez flies out to Caberea Weaver. Zavier Warren flies out to Chase Krogman. Joey Wiemer singles to right-center field. Darrien Miller pops out to DJ Gladney.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Cannon Ballers 6th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Chase Krogman hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch. Caberea Weaver grounds out, Freddy Zamora to Ernesto Martinez. Harvin Mendoza singles to left-center field. Daniel Millwee grounds into double play, Felix Valerio to Freddy Zamora to Ernesto Martinez, Harvin Mendoza out at 2nd, Daniel Millwee out at 1st.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 6, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Pitcher Change: Marcus Evey replaces Jesus Valles. Felix Valerio walks. Ernesto Martinez doubles to left-center field, Felix Valerio to 3rd. Zavier Warren grounds out to Harvin Mendoza. Joey Wiemer reaches on a fielder's choice out, Samil Polanco to Daniel Millwee, Felix Valerio out at home, Ernesto Martinez to 3rd. Joey Wiemer steals 2nd base. Darrien Miller walks. Andre Nnebe singles through the hole at shortstop, Ernesto Martinez scores; Joey Wiemer scores; Andre Nnebe out at 2nd on the throw, Chase Krogman to DJ Gladney, Darrien Miller to 3rd.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)