Walk-Off Balk Leads to Carolina’s Third Straight Loss
FAYETTEVILLE – Juan Geraldo balked in the winning run in the tenth as the Woodpeckers rallied for three runs in extras to defeat the Mudcats 4-3 in Tuesday night’s series opener at SEGRA Stadium in Fayetteville. Ernesto Martinez homered earlier in the game and the Mudcats scored twice in the
FAYETTEVILLE – Juan Geraldo balked in the winning run in the tenth as the Woodpeckers rallied for three runs in extras to defeat the Mudcats 4-3 in Tuesday night’s series opener at SEGRA Stadium in Fayetteville. Ernesto Martinez homered earlier in the game and the Mudcats scored twice in the tenth before dropping game one of the seven-game series in Fayetteville.
Geraldo (BS, 1) entered the game in the tenth with the bases loaded and with the Mudcats (28-19) leading 3-2. He then went on to give up a game-tying infield single before then balking in a run with the bases loaded to hand Fayetteville (18-29) the series opening victory.
Cam Robinson had worked through an inning plus scoreless, before walking in a run after issuing three straight walks in the tenth. Robinson (1-1, 2.55) was charged with three runs (two earned) in the final frame of the game and took the loss. He originally entered the game in the eighth with it tied at 1-1 and with two runners on base. Robinson managed to get a strikeout there to escape the inning and went on to work through and inning and 1/3 (plus) with four walks and three strikeouts.
Like Robinson, reliever Joey Matulovich also walked four, but did not give up a run over his three and 2/3 innings outing. He followed starter Brandon Knarr who worked around a :57 minute rain delay between the first and second while pitching through the fourth with a run allowed six hits. He also struck out five, with his final punchout being the last out of the fourth when he left the bases loaded.
Knarr’s lone run allowed came in the second after Justin Dirden and Zach Daniels both doubled in the inning. Daniels’ double scored Dirden with two outs in the second and was his first of three hits in the game.
Carolina later tied it at 1-1 in the fourth after Martinez connected on his sixth home run of the season. That home run also ended a drought of 19 straight games without a home run for Martinez.
Major League rehabber Josh James started for the Woodpeckers and worked the first before the delay knocked him out of the game. Relievers Alfredi Jimenez and Misael Tamarez took it the rest of the way with Jimenez allowing the Martinez big fly in the fourth and Tamarez holding the Mudcats scoreless until the tenth. Jimenez allowed a run on five hits over four innings and struck out two. Tamarez struck out four, walked three and allowed two runs on two hits over five innings.
The loss was Carolina’s third straight and dropped their lead in the Low- A East Central division to just a half game ahead of the Down East Wood Ducks.
HOME RUNS:
Carolina HR : Martinez, E (6, 4th inning off Jimenez, A, 0 on, 2 out).
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Holt, 3B (Carolina): 3-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Martinez, E, 1B (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Daniels, LF (Fayetteville): 3-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Dirden, DH (Fayetteville): 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Brewer, RF (Fayetteville): 1-for-4, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Knarr (Carolina): 4 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Matulovich (Carolina): 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO
James (Fayetteville): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Jimenez, A (Fayetteville): 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Tamarez (W, 2-1) (Fayetteville): 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
SCORING SUMMARY:
Woodpeckers 2nd (Woodpeckers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Nerio Rodriguez grounds out to Brandon Knarr. Justin Dirden doubles to left-center field. Luke Berryhill strikes out swinging. Zach Daniels singles to left field, Justin Dirden scores; Zach Daniels to 2nd. Zach Daniels steals 3rd base. Yohander Martinez flies out to Joe Gray Jr.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 1, Woodpeckers 1) -- Zavier Warren flies out to Kenedy Corona. Joey Wiemer pops out to Luke Berryhill. Ernesto Martinez hits a home run to right-center field on a 1-0 pitch. Ashton McGee singles to shallow left field. Noah Campbell grounds out to Luke Berryhill.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 10th (Mudcats 3, Woodpeckers 1) -- Noah Campbell starts inning at 2nd base. Wild pitch by Misael Tamarez, Noah Campbell to 3rd. Gabe Holt walks. Freddy Zamora grounds out, J.C. Correa to Luke Berryhill, Gabe Holt to 2nd. Misael Tamarez intentionally walks Joe Gray Jr. Felix Valerio doubles to left field, Noah Campbell scores; Gabe Holt scores; Joe Gray Jr. to 3rd. Zavier Warren grounds out, Misael Tamarez to Luke Berryhill. Joey Wiemer grounds out, J.C. Correa to Luke Berryhill.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Woodpeckers 10th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 3) -- J.C. Correa starts inning at 2nd base. Nerio Rodriguez walks, J.C. Correa to 3rd;wild pitch by Cam Robinson. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Sean Mendoza replaces Nerio Rodriguez. Justin Dirden walks, Sean Mendoza to 2nd. Luke Berryhill walks, J.C. Correa scores; Sean Mendoza to 3rd; Justin Dirden to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Juan Geraldo replaces Cam Robinson. Zach Daniels singles to shallow left field, Sean Mendoza scores; Justin Dirden to 3rd; Luke Berryhill to 2nd.
(3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)