Wilson Homers & Campbell Collects Three Hits in Loss

Carolina 2 @ Fredericksburg 3

August 26, 2021 | Venue : FredNats Ballpark | First pitch : 7:07 PM | Att : 3,446 | T : 2:41

WP: Rodney Theophile (3 - 10) LP: Jefferson Figueroa (0 - 1) SV: Troy Stainbrook (2)

FREDERICKSBURG – Mike Wilson hit a home run in the seventh, Noah Campbell went 3-for-3 and Ernesto Martinez went 2-for-4 while extending his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games, but the Carolina Mudcats fell 3-2 to the Fredericksburg Nationals for the second straight night on Thursday at FredNats Ballpark.

The Mudcats (60-39) were first on the board as they rallied for a run and three hits in the second against Fredericksburg (35-64) starter Rodney Theophile. That three-hit and one run frame began with a leadoff single from Martinez and continued with a single from Campbell. Zack Raabe then followed with a walk and Alex Hall would then deliver a bases loaded RBI single to score Martinez and to give the Mudcats the early 1-0 lead.

Theophile (3-10, 5.58) worked through the bases loaded jam in the second with just the one run allowed and would go through the fifth with only run while earning the win. Theophile also worked around four walks and six hits while totaling four strikeouts in his victorious start.

The game remained 1-0 until the fourth when the Nationals rallied for three, two out runs against Carolina starter Jeferson Figueroa. That rally included back-to-back RBI singles from Viandel Pena and Juan Paulino. Both hits also came with two outs in the inning and accounted for all three Fredericksburg runs as Pena’s brought in the tying run and Paulino drove in two to put the FredNats up 3-1.

Figueroa (0-1, 5.14) took the loss after allowing all three FredNats runs in the fourth. In all, Figueroa pitched through four innings and allowed three runs on three hits. He also walked two and struck out four in his second start with the Mudcats. He originally began his outing with three straight scoreless innings before allowing three runs and two hits in the fourth.

Relievers Robbie Baker and James Meeker followed Figueroa and combined to hold the FredNats scoreless over the next four innings. Baker retired six straight across the fifth and sixth before working out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth and finishing with three scoreless frames. Baker also totaled four strikeouts against one walk and two hits allowed. Meeker worked the ninth and struck out two.

Wilson’s home run came in the seventh and was an opposite field blast to left off reliever Amos Willingham. The home run cut the Fredericksburg lead to 3-2 and was Wilson’s third of the season. That run was also all that Willingham allowed in his outing as he worked through two innings with just one run allowed on one hit. He also walked two and struck out three while earning his second hold. Troy Stainbrook pitched the final two frames and earned the save after totaling four strikeouts over two scoreless innings.

The Mudcats hit into three double plays in the game, matching a season high. Alex Binelas hit into two of the three double plays while going 0-for-4. Sal Frelick hit into a double play as well and went 0-for-5 while snapping an 11 game hit streak.

The FredNats took a 2-1 lead in the series with the Thursday night victory in Fredericksburg. The fourth game of the six game series is scheduled for Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at FredNats Ballpark.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina HR : Wilson (3, 7th inning off Willingham, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Campbell, LF (Carolina): 3-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

Wilson, RF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

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

Pena, V, 3B (Fredericksburg): 2-for-2, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Paulino, C (Fredericksburg): 2-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Baker, 2B (Fredericksburg): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Figueroa (L, 0-1) (Carolina): 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Baker (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

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

Theophile (W, 3-10) (Fredericksburg): 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO

Willingham (H, 2) (Fredericksburg): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

Stainbrook (S, 2) (Fredericksburg): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Nationals 0) -- Ernesto Martinez singles through the hole at second base. Noah Campbell singles through the hole at second base, Ernesto Martinez to 3rd; Noah Campbell to 2nd. Zack Raabe walks. Alex Hall singles to right field, Ernesto Martinez scores; Noah Campbell to 3rd; Zack Raabe to 2nd. Mike Wilson strikes out swinging. Sal Frelick strikes out swinging. Ethan Murray pops out to Jake Boone.

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

Nationals 4th (Nationals 3, Mudcats 1) -- Branden Boissiere walks. Leandro Emiliani hit by pitch, Branden Boissiere to 2nd. Jaden Fein pops out to Zack Raabe on the infield fly rule. Jeremy De La Rosa strikes out swinging. Viandel Pena singles to center field, Branden Boissiere scores; Leandro Emiliani to 3rd; Viandel Pena to 2nd. Juan Paulino singles to right field, Leandro Emiliani scores; Viandel Pena scores. Juan Paulino steals 2nd base. throwing error by Alex Hall. Jake Boone struck out looking.

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

Mudcats 7th (Nationals 3, Mudcats 2) -- Mike Wilson hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch. Sal Frelick struck out looking. Ethan Murray grounds out, Amos Willingham to Leandro Emiliani. Tyler Black walks. Alex Binelas struck out looking.

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