Costanzo's Homer in 10th Lifts Mudcats
August 8, 2010 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
ZEBULON, NC - Mike Costanzo hit a game-winning home run in the last of the 10th to cap a four-run comeback for the Carolina Mudcats as they stunned the Chattanooga Lookouts 8-6 at Five County Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Costanzo's blast came on the first pitch after an inning-opening walk to Dave Sappelt by reliever Cole St. Clair. Costanzo drilled his ninth of the season over the right field wall for the game winner, Carolina's fourth extra inning game in their last six contests.
Chattanooga (17-25) got on the board in the opening frame against Mudcat starter, James Avery. With two outs, Trayvon Robinson walked and Jerry Sands doubled to put two runners on base ahead of Eddy Perez who singled home Robinson to give the Lookouts a one run lead. However, they were not done in the first as Jamie Pedroza followed with a single of his own to push across another run and make it 2-0 Chattanooga after one.
Like the first inning, Avery struggled through the second as Kyle Russell took the first pitch of the inning over the wall in right for a lead-off homer. That was followed by an Alex Garabedian single and after the Lookouts loaded the bases with two out, Robinson delivered his 45th RBI of the season putting the Mudcats in a four run hole.
Carolina (21-22) scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning as Sean Henry led off the inning with a single and was doubled home by Brandon Yarbrough and pulled the Mudcats to within three at 4-1.
Chattanooga added to their lead in the fifth with a single run as Avery hit Robinson to begin the inning and after a walk to Sands, the Lookouts were in business again. After a Pedroza popped out, Perez sent a ground ball to first, and as Costanzo fired a through to second, the ball went into left field allowing the run to score and give the Lookouts a 5-1 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth.
The Mudcats answered right back in the bottom half to get right back into the game with a three spot chasing Will Savage from the game. Jake Kahaulelio legged out an infield hit and scored one hitter later on a Yarbrough double. Following a Lee Tabor strikeout, Kris Negron singled for the third time in the contest. That single chased Savage from the game and brought David Pfeiffer in to pitch and after hitting Jose Castro on a 0-2 pitch, which loaded the bases. Dave Sappelt was the next Carolina hitter and he laced a single to left to score two runs and bring the Mudcats back into the game at 5-4.
Chattanooga added to their lead in the top of the eighth with a run against Joe Krebs. With one out, Kyle Russell doubled and advanced to third and later scored on Elian Herrera's pinch-hit single to make it 6-4 Lookouts.
In the bottom of the frame, Carolina found some offense, again as they came all the way back to tie the game at six. Javier Solano came on to pitch the inning for the Lookouts and after a lead off walk and a Costanzo double put runners and second and third, Solano was chased from the game. That brought Cole St. Clair into the game with two on base. The first man to greet St. Clair was Henry who grounded out to second but on the play, Sappelt scored to make it a one run lead for the Lookouts.
However, the Mudcats were not done scoring against St. Clair as Yarbrough delivered his second RBI of the game as he singled to right and bring Costanzo home to tie the score after eight.
In the ninth, Chattanooga had the first two reach against Jerry Gil as Robinson began the inning by striking out, however the ball got past Devin Mesoraco allowing Robinson to reach, that was followed by a Sands single to left putting two on with none out. Perez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out, Gil then walked Pedroza to load the bases with just one out. With his back against the wall, Gil got Russell to strikeout swinging for the second out and Garabedian popped out to end the threat. Carolina could not score in the bottom of the ninth and the game went into extra innings.
Chattanooga used some help from Carolina in the 10th inning as Herrera led off the inning with a weak groundball to second, however the throw from Kahaulelio pulled Costanzo off the bag allowing the lead-off man to reach. Dee Gordon singled to put two runners on with no outs, which brought the pitcher, St. Clair to the plate, and the Lookouts forced the issue as they pulled a double steal to move the runners to second and third, with one out as St. Clair struck out looking. Carolina, then walked Robinson intentionally to load the bases for Sands, who after falling behind in the count two strikes worked the count even and fouled off three two strike pitches before swinging through a Jeremy Horst fastball for the second out and Perez also went down swinging as the Lookouts left the bases loaded for the third straight inning and the score remained knotted at six.
Game three of the five game series is Monday night at 7:15 when Matt Klinker (5-5, 2.46) goes for Carolina and the Lookouts send Jesus Castillo (4-6, 2.86) to the hill.
Southern League Stories from August 8, 2010
- Suns Reclaim First Place with Sunday Win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Jacksonville Teeters Back into First by Bouncing BayBears - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies' Win Streak at Five After 13-3 Romp Over Huntsville Sunday - Knoxville Smokies
- Five run 2nd inning propels Braves to victory - Mississippi Braves
- Diamond Jaxx Hang On For 8-7 Win Sunday - Jackson Generals
- Promising 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short - Montgomery Biscuits
- Costanzo's Homer in 10th Lifts Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- OF Felix Perez Activated - Carolina Mudcats
- IF Eric Eymann Heads up to Louisville - Carolina Mudcats
- 18-Hit Outburst Routs Jaxx - Montgomery Biscuits
- Montgomery tallies 18 hits in 9-1 win over Diamond Jaxx - Jackson Generals
- BayBears Win Opener, Overtake Suns in Division - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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.
