Zavier Warren Hits Walk-Off in Zebulon

Lynchburg 2 @ Carolina 3

July 06, 2021 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:02 PM | Att : 1,402 | T : 2:25

WP: Miguel Guerrero (3 - 0) LP: Cade Smith (1 - 2)

LISTEN: Manager Joe Ayrault Post-Game Interview

ZEBULON – Zavier Warren hit a walk-off home run in the ninth, Freddy Zamora hit two game-tying home runs and Miguel Guerrero tossed three perfect innings in relief as the Mudcats defeated the Hillcats 3-2 in game one of a six-game series at Five County Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Mudcats (31-23) used three solo home runs to power their way to what was their third straight victory. They also used those three home runs to power their way to a series opening victory over the Hillcats (26-27).

Warren’s walk-off winner was his only hit of the night and was his tenth home run overall this season. It was also Carolina’s first walk-off homer of the year and the club’s second walk-off victory overall.

Zamora homered twice in the game with his first counting as the first of his career and as a game-tying homer that locked the game at 1-1 in the fourth. His second home run also tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth and came off reliever Liam Jenkins (BS, 2). Warren’s homer in the ninth was hit off losing pitcher Cade Smith (1-2, 6.35).

Lynchburg led first in Tuesday’s series opener after getting a run off starter Jhoan Cruz in the second and another in the sixth. Their run in the sixth came on a home run from Johnathan Rodriguez, his third of the season.

Cruz pitched through the sixth and allowed just two runs on six hits. He also walked one and struck out four while turning in his third quality start of the season.

Reliever Miguel Guerrero followed and went on to work through three perfect innings while earning his third victory. Guerrero (3-0, 5.22) struck out four, faced nine batters and used 30 pitches (22 strikes) while retiring the side in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

The series will continue on Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats lead the series 1-0 and will take a three-game winning streak into Wednesday’s game.

HOME RUNS:

Lynchburg HR : Rodriguez, Jo (3, 6th inning off Cruz, Jh, 0 on, 1 out).

Carolina HR : Zamora 2 (2, 4th inning off Arias-Bautista, 0 on, 0 out, 6th inning off Jenkins, 0 on, 1 out); Warren (10, 9th inning off Smith, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Martinez, 2B (Lynchburg): 2-for-4, 0 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Rodriguez, Jo, RF (Lynchburg): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Holland, LF (Lynchburg): 1-for-2, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

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

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

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Cruz, Jh (Carolina): 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Guerrero (W, 3-0) (Carolina): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Arias-Bautista (Lynchburg): 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

Jenkins (BS, 2) (Lynchburg): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Smith (L, 1-2) (Lynchburg): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SOZamora, SS (Carolina): 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 2 RBI

SCORING PLAYS:

Hillcats 2nd (Hillcats 1, Mudcats 0) -- Miguel Jerez triples to left-center field. Gabriel Rodriguez flies out to Andre Nnebe. Alexfri Planez singles to deep shortstop. Korey Holland out on a sacrifice fly to Joey Wiemer, Miguel Jerez scores. Christian Cairo strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 4th (Hillcats 1, Mudcats 1) -- Freddy Zamora hits a home run to left-center field on a 1-1 pitch. Zavier Warren strikes out swinging. Felix Valerio grounds out, Gabriel Rodriguez to Miguel Jerez. Noah Campbell flies out to Johnathan Rodriguez.

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

Hillcats 6th (Hillcats 2, Mudcats 1) -- Yainer Diaz grounds out, Gabe Holt to Ashton McGee. Johnathan Rodriguez hits a home run to left-center field on a 1-0 pitch. Miguel Jerez struck out looking. Gabriel Rodriguez grounds out, Gabe Holt to Ashton McGee.

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

Mudcats 6th (Hillcats 2, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Liam Jenkins replaces Jaime Arias-Bautista. Gabe Holt grounds out, Miguel Jerez to Liam Jenkins. Freddy Zamora hits a home run to right field on a 2-1 pitch. Zavier Warren strikes out swinging. Felix Valerio strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 9th (Mudcats 3, Hillcats 2) -- Zavier Warren hits a home run to right field on a 3-2 pitch.

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