CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Giardina Caps 6-5 Comeback Win with Ninth Inning RBI Double

July 9, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


WOODBRIDGE, VA - Sal Giardina finished a three run comeback in the ninth with a go-ahead two-out, two-run double to center as the Mudcats defeated the Nationals 6-5 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA on Saturday night.

The Mudcats (36-51, 7-10) erased a two run deficit in the ninth with a three run comeback and won the game 6-5 while evening the series in Potomac (45-38, 11-4) at a game apiece.

Giardina's two-out, two-run double in the ninth came on a two strike pitch and gave the Mudcats their first lead of the night. It also turned out to be the game winner as it put the Mudcats up 6-5.

Giardina was 2-for-5 with a triple, double and three RBI in the comeback Carolina victory. He also had three errors and caught for the Mudcats on a night where the Nationals stole five bases.

Isaias Tejeda drove in the first run of Carolina's three run final frame with a sacrifice fly before Giardina's go-ahead double to center. Tejeda was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the game for Carolina.

Tejeda, like Giardina, also had a multi-error night after committing two errors (catching and throwing) in the seventh. The Mudcats were charged with a season high six errors in Saturday's victory.

The Nationals led first in the game after getting two across over the first two innings before the Mudcats tied it at 2-2 in the third. Potomac later a took a 3-2 lead in the sixth, but Carolina tied it again after scoring once in the seventh inning. The 3-3 tie quickly disappeared though after the Nationals scored a run in the seventh and eighth while taking a 5-3 lead before the ninth.

Matt Withrow started for Carolina and allowed two runs over the first two frames before settling down and holding the Nationals to three runs on eight hits over six innings pitched. Withrow (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) left after the sixth and reliever Taylor Lewis went on to work the next two innings.

The Mudcats committed three errors behind Lewis (2-1, 0.00), but he limited the damaged and gave up just two unearned runs on three hits over two innings while earning the victory. Sean McLaughlin (S, 5) came in for the ninth and retired the side in order and struck out one while earning his fifth save.

Potomac's R.C. Orlan (5-3, 3.25) pitched the ninth and gave up back-to-back singles to Joseph Daris and Erison Mendez to start the inning. He then got Keith Curcio to hit into a force for the inning's first out, but then loaded the bases after walking pinch hitter Braxton Davidson. Mario Sanchez was then brought in to replace Orlan and immediately allowed a sacrifice fly to Tejeda before giving up Giardina's RBI double to center.

Matthew Crownover (5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) started and pitched into the sixth before leaving the game. Matthew Spann (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER) finished the sixth and pitched through part of the seventh while pitching through one full inning in the Potomac loss. Gilberto Mendez pitched the seventh and eighth and kept the Mudcats scoreless while striking out three.

The series continues on Sunday night with the first pitch in Potomac scheduled for 6:05 PM at Pfitzner Stadium.

Carolina Mudcats games air over the radio on The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and are streamed online at www.carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio app. All home games are additionally streamed live in high definition video and live game audio via MiLB.tv.

Tickets to all Carolina Mudcats games are currently available by contacting a front office representative at (919) 269-CATS (2287) or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. First established in 1991, the two-time Southern League Champion Carolina Mudcats are in their 26th consecutive season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C.

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