CarL Carolina Mudcats

Carolina Wins Second Straight 7-3 in Kinston

July 2, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


KINSTON, N.C. - Jose Sibrian went 2-for-4 with two runs driven in, Luis Lara totaled three hits, Jace Avina hit a two-run homer in the ninth and starter Logan Henderson struck out eight over five one-hit innings as the Carolina Mudcats defeated the Down East Wood Ducks 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium.

Sibrian got the Mudcats (3-5, 36-35) going early as he drove in the first runs of the game with a two-run double in the first. Lara singled and Hedbert Perez reached on fielder's choice before scoring on Sibrian's double in the opening frame.

The Wood Ducks (5-3, 42-27) answered back with an Angel Aponte home run in the same frame, but that hit would be all Henderson (W, 1-2) allowed in his victorious outing. Henderson worked through the fifth with one hit, one run, two walks and eight strikeouts. He also faced just a handful over the minimum while reaching 75 pitches (48 strikes).

The Aponte homer cut the Carolina lead to 2-1 after the first, but the Mudcats went on to add a run in the third on a double steal and another in the fourth with a bases loaded walk while going up 4-1.

Perez later singled in a run in the eighth to push Carolina ahead 5-1, but the Wood Ducks inched closer with two runs in the same inning to get within two at 5-3. Avina then followed a Sibrian single in the ninth with a two-run blast to give the Mudcats the insurance needed to leave with the 7-3 victory.

Relievers Nate Peterson, Jeison Pena and Yerlin Rodriguez followed Henderson with Peterson tossing two scoreless frames and totaling three strikeouts in his first outing after a month-long stint on the injured list. Pena later allowed a couple of runs in the eighth, but Rodriguez finished the victory with a scoreless ninth.

Leandro Lopez (L, 2-3) started for the Wood Ducks and took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) and six hits over three and 1/3 innings.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Avina (7, 9th inning off Ramirez, 1 on, 0 out).

Down East: Aponte (1, 1st inning off Henderson, 0 on, 2 out).

STOLEN BASES:

Carolina: Avina (7, 2nd base off Wynyard/Moreno).

Down East: Aponte (4, 2nd base off Henderson/Sibrian).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Sibrian, C (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Avina, RF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB

Lara, CF (Carolina): 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Perez, H, LF (Carolina): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI

Aponte, CF (Down East): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB

Specht, RF (Down East): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Henderson (W, 1-2) (Carolina): 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO

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

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

Wynyard (Down East): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 1st (Mudcats 2, Wood Ducks 0) -- Gregory Barrios pops out to Griffin Cheney. Luis Lara singles to left-center field. Hedbert Perez reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Griffin Cheney. throwing error by Griffin Cheney. Luke Adams strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by Leandro Lopez, Luis Lara to 3rd; Hedbert Perez to 2nd. Jose Sibrian doubles to right field, Luis Lara scores; Hedbert Perez scores. Jace Avina struck out looking.

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

Wood Ducks 1st (Mudcats 2, Wood Ducks 1) -- Andres Mesa strikes out swinging. Tommy Specht flies out to Luis Lara. Angel Aponte hits a home run to right-center field on a 2-1 pitch. Gleider Figuereo strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 3, Wood Ducks 1) -- Luis Lara singles to left field. Hedbert Perez singles through the hole at second base, Luis Lara to 3rd. Luke Adams strikes out swinging and Hedbert Perez caught stealing 2nd, Jesus Moreno to Griffin Cheney to Jesus Moreno. Luis Lara scores. Jose Sibrian strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 4, Wood Ducks 1) -- Jace Avina flies out to Zion Bannister. Jheremy Vargas singles to right field. Blayberg Diaz singles to center field, Jheremy Vargas to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Kai Wynyard replaces Leandro Lopez. Jesus Chirinos walks, Jheremy Vargas to 3rd; Blayberg Diaz to 2nd. Gregory Barrios pops out to Andres Mesa on the infield fly rule. Luis Lara walks, Jheremy Vargas scores; Blayberg Diaz to 3rd; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Hedbert Perez flies out to Tommy Specht.

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

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 5, Wood Ducks 1) -- Blayberg Diaz grounds out, Andres Mesa to Konner Piotto. Jesus Chirinos hit by pitch. Gregory Barrios flies out to Angel Aponte. Luis Lara singles to right field, Jesus Chirinos to 3rd. Hedbert Perez singles through the hole at second base, Jesus Chirinos scores; Luis Lara to 3rd. Luke Adams strikes out swinging.

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

Wood Ducks 8th (Mudcats 5, Wood Ducks 3) -- Pitcher Change: Jeison Pena replaces Nate Peterson. Jesus Moreno walks. Zion Bannister singles through the hole at second base, Jesus Moreno to 3rd. Andres Mesa walks, Zion Bannister to 2nd. Tommy Specht grounds out, Jheremy Vargas to Jesus Chirinos, Jesus Moreno scores; Zion Bannister to 3rd; Andres Mesa to 2nd. Angel Aponte out on a sacrifice fly to Hedbert Perez, Zion Bannister scores; Andres Mesa to 3rd. Gleider Figuereo struck out looking.

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

Mudcats 9th (Mudcats 7, Wood Ducks 3) -- Jose Sibrian singles up the middle. Jace Avina hits a home run to left-center field on a 1-2 pitch, Jose Sibrian scores. Jheremy Vargas grounds out, Andres Mesa to Konner Piotto. Blayberg Diaz strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Alberto Mota replaces Luis Ramirez. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging.

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

Single-game tickets, season ticket packages, mini plans, group options, as well as luxury suite packages and DRB Homes Sky Lounge reservations in the US Foods Club Level are also still available now by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287, and by visiting the Five County Stadium front office in Zebulon.

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Carolina League Stories from July 2, 2023


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