SL1 Carolina Mudcats

Mesoraco Lifts Mudcats in 11

Published on June 12, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


ZEBULON, NC- Devin Mesoraco hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to snap the Carolina Mudcats' snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over the Huntsville Stars before 4,514 fans at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.

After Jose Castro tied the game with a single in the bottom of the ninth, Mesoraco clubbed his third Double-A homer against the left field scoreboard to lift Carolina to its first victory since June 3rd at Jacksonville.

After a one hour and two minute rain delay, the Stars (29-34) struck in the opening inning as the first three Huntsville batters singled against Carolina starter Scott Carroll and with the bases loaded and no one out, Carroll hit Zelous Wheeler to bring home the first run of the game. Huntsville got their second run of the inning when Lorenzo Cain scored on a Steffan Wilson double play ball and after one, the Stars lead 2-0.

That lead grew to three runs when Brett Lawrie led off the third with a double to left and scored two batters later on a Caleb Gindl sacrifice fly and after three complete it was 3-0 Stars.

Mark Rogers, the Huntsville starter, kept Carolina (26-36) in check until the fifth inning when the Mudcats scored three times to tie the game as Devin Mesoraco led off the inning by striking out, but reached on a pass ball. He scored one batter later as Dave Sappelt tripled to right to put Carolina on the board.

Sappelt was driven home a couple batters later when he scored on a fielder's choice of the bat of Jose Castro to cut the lead to one at 3-2. Carolina tied the game with two outs, as Kris Negron drove a double past a sliding Lee Haydel in left to plate Castro and tie the game.

However, Huntsville came right back in the sixth to score a pair of runs. Taylor Green singled up the middle with one out and after a double by Steffan Wilson; the Stars had a pair of runners on base. Lee Haydel was the next hitter and singled on the infield to plate Green and on the play an error was made by Kris Negron allowing Wilson to score and give the Stars a two-run lead.

Carolina got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as they mounted a two-out rally against Huntsville reliever, Robert Hinton as Devin Mesoraco singled and Dave Sappelt did the same to put runners at the corners with two outs, and with Denis Phipps at the plate, a balk was called on Hinton which brought Mesoraco home to cut the lead to one.

It remained a one run lead for the Stars until the bottom of the ninth when the Mudcats mounted a comeback as Devin Mesoraco began the inning with a single and Dave Sappelt laid down a bunt that stayed fair on the chalk line to put two on with no outs.

After Denis Phipps bunted into a fielder's choice which forced Mesoraco out at third. But, Jose Castro came through with a base hit to left to tie the game at five all. Carolina also had the winning run at second base, but Mike Costanzo popped out to third for the second out of the inning and Kris Negron also struck out to end the inning and send the game to the 10th tied a five all.

In the top of the 10th, Huntsville had a chance against Jordan Smith, as Brett Lawrie led off the inning with a single and as Lorenzo Cain tried to lay down a bunt, he bunted it right in front of the plate where Devin Mesoraco fired to second base for the first out and the throw back to first doubled up Cain for two outs. After a two out single, Zelous Wheeler popped out to end the Stars half of the frame. The Mudcats went in order in their half of the frame and sent the game to the 11th.

In the 11th, Jeremy Hoarst came one in relief and after getting the first two outs with ease, Lee Haydel reached on an error by Carolina second basemen, Jake Kahaulelio and after a Dayton Buller single, Huntsville had runners at the corners, and on a three ball count, Anderson Machado grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Huntsville brought in Jim Henderson to keep the game tied in the bottom of the frame, but the first batter of the inning, Devin Mesoraco homered to left to win it for the Mudcats and snap the seven game skid.

Game four of the series will be Sunday afternoon at 2:00 when Carolina sends Tom Cochran to the mound and Huntsville counters with Amaury Rivas.

Check out the Carolina Mudcats Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Southern League Stories from June 12, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central