Wiemer Wallops 2-Run HR & Grand Slam in 8-3 Win

Kannapolis 3 @ Carolina 8

August 06, 2021 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:18 PM | Att : 4,125 | T : 3:29 (:18 delay)

WP: Michele Vassalotti (4 - 5) LP: Matthew Thompson (1 - 5) SV: Cam Robinson (12)

ZEBULON – Joey Wiemer hit a two-run home run in the second and a grand slam in the eighth while powering the Mudcats to an 8-3 victory versus Kannapolis on Friday night at Five County Stadium. Starter Michele Vassalotti totaled a career high nine strikeouts over a season high six and 1/3 innings while leading the Mudcats to their third consecutive victory.

Just one night after hitting a walk-off home run in extras, Wiemer once again led the way for Carolina (49-33) as he went 3-for-5 overall with two runs, six RBI and two homers in the game. His second inning home run put his club up 2-0 and his grand slam in the eighth put the game out of reach as it gave Carolina an 8-2 lead over Kannapolis (26-56). The grand slam was also Carolina’s franchise record sixth of the season. The previous record was four grand slams in a single season.

Wiemer’s home run in the second came against starter Matthew Thompson and accounted for two of his four runs allowed in the game. Thompson (1-5, 6.75) then allowed a run on two wild pitches in the third before seeing Carolina go up 4-0 in the fourth when they executed another first and third double steal with Noah Campbell swiping home. Thompson worked into the fourth and took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits. He also walked four and struck out four.

Carolina led 4-0 after Campbell’s run in the fourth and Vassalotti would take that lead through the sixth while holding Kannapolis scoreless. He went on to allow two runs in the seventh, but left with the lead and went on to earn the victory. Vassalotti pitched through a season high six and 1/3 innings and struck out a career high nine batters. He also walked two and allowed just two runs on three hits while turning in his first quality start of the season.

Relievers Juan Geraldo and Cam Robinson followed Vassalotti with Geraldo earning a hold and Robinson earning his league best 12th save. Robinson originally entered the game with Carolina up 4-2 in the eighth and earned a four out save. Robinson (S, 12) allowed a run in the ninth, but struck out one and worked around three hits and a walk while closing out the game.

With the victory, the first place Mudcats moved one game ahead of Salem for the second best record in the league and remained 3.5 games ahead of the Wood Ducks in the Low-A East Central standings.

The series will continue on Saturday with game five of six between the two teams. Saturday’s game will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium and will feature a souvenir jersey giveaway before the game.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina HR : Wiemer 2 (12, 2nd inning off Thompson, M, 1 on, 0 out, 8th inning off Speer, 3 on, 2 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Ramos, 3B (Kannapolis): 2-for-5, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Mendoza, H, 1B (Kannapolis): 2-for-5, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Torres, V, C (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Wiemer, RF (Carolina): 3-for-5, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI

Zamora, SS (Carolina): 1-for-2, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Holt, 3B (Carolina): 2-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Warren, 1B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Vassalotti (W, 4-5) (Carolina): 6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO

Geraldo (H, 2) (Carolina): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Robinson (S, 12) (Carolina): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Fernandez (Kannapolis): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Alston (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 2, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Zavier Warren walks. Joey Wiemer hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch, Zavier Warren scores. Micah Bello hit by pitch. Darrien Miller struck out looking. Noah Campbell flies out to Anderson Comas. Gabe Holt grounds out to Harvin Mendoza.

(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 3, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Freddy Zamora walks. Ashton McGee strikes out swinging. Felix Valerio hit by pitch, Freddy Zamora to 2nd. Wild pitch by Matthew Thompson, Freddy Zamora to 3rd; Felix Valerio to 2nd. Wild pitch by Matthew Thompson, Freddy Zamora scores; Felix Valerio to 3rd. Zavier Warren struck out looking. Joey Wiemer grounds out, Bryan Ramos to Harvin Mendoza.

(1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Micah Bello grounds out, Samil Polanco to Harvin Mendoza. Darrien Miller pops out to Bryan Ramos. Noah Campbell walks. Gabe Holt singles through the hole at second base, Noah Campbell to 3rd. Noah Campbell steals home, Gabe Holt steals 2nd base, missed catch error by Samil Polanco. Freddy Zamora walks. Pitcher Change: Rigo Fernandez replaces Matthew Thompson. Ashton McGee hit by pitch, Freddy Zamora to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Michael Wilson replaces Ashton McGee. Felix Valerio strikes out swinging.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 7th (Mudcats 4, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Samil Polanco strikes out swinging. Caberea Weaver walks. Chase Krogman hit by pitch, Caberea Weaver to 2nd. Caberea Weaver steals 3rd base, Chase Krogman steals 2nd base, throwing error by Darrien Miller. Anderson Comas walks. Pitcher Change: Juan Geraldo replaces Michele Vassalotti. Victor Torres doubles to left field, Chase Krogman scores; Anderson Comas to 3rd. Jose Rodriguez strikes out swinging. Wilber Sanchez grounds out, Juan Geraldo to Zavier Warren.

(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 8, Cannon Ballers 2) -- Pitcher Change: Hunter Speer replaces Garvin Alston. Gabe Holt hit by pitch. Freddy Zamora walks, Gabe Holt to 2nd. Wild pitch by Hunter Speer, Gabe Holt to 3rd; Freddy Zamora to 2nd. Michael Wilson walks. Felix Valerio grounds into a force out, Wilber Sanchez to Victor Torres, Gabe Holt out at home, Freddy Zamora to 3rd; Michael Wilson to 2nd. Zavier Warren strikes out swinging. Joey Wiemer hits a grand slam to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Freddy Zamora scores; Michael Wilson scores; Felix Valerio scores. Pitcher Change: Tyson Messer replaces Hunter Speer. Micah Bello pops out to Victor Torres in foul territory.

(4 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 9th (Mudcats 8, Cannon Ballers 3) -- Victor Torres lines out to Joey Wiemer. Jose Rodriguez grounds out, Zavier Warren to Cam Robinson. Wilber Sanchez singles to deep shortstop. Bryan Ramos singles through the hole at shortstop, Wilber Sanchez to 2nd. Harvin Mendoza singles to right field, Wilber Sanchez scores; Bryan Ramos to 3rd. Samil Polanco grounds out, Zavier Warren to Cam Robinson.

(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)