CarL Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Drop Series Opener 16-3 in Kannapolis

Published on August 15, 2023 under Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Jace Avina and Luke Adams both had RBI singles in the third, but Carolina pitchers combined to allow a season high 16 hits in a 16-3, series opening loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

The Mudcats (27-16, 60-46) were already down 6-0 when they rallied for three runs to cut the Kannapolis (21-22, ) lead in half. The Cannon Ballers, however, answered right back with three runs to go up 9-3 before adding two more runs in the fourth, a couple more in the fifth, two more again in the seventh, and one last run in the eighth while taking the opener 16-3.

Avina and Adams both had run-scoring hits in the three run second with Avina's RBI single scoring Luis Castillo and Adams' RBI single scoring Jadher Areinamo. Castillo led off the second with a single and Areinamo doubled in the second. Avina scored the second run of the frame on a groundout.

Carolina's starter Alexander Vallecillo allowed six runs in the first and three runs in the second while allowing nine total runs, five walks and six hits over the first three innings. Vallecillo (L, 2-3) took the loss, but reached 77 pitches (46 strikes) while laboring through his short start.

Newly added reliever Gerson Calzadilla took over in the fourth and also gave up six hits while allowing four more runs. Jose Chavez and Jeferson Figueroa combined on the final three frames with Chavez giving up two more runs on two hits and Figueroa allowing a run and two hits.

Jordan Sprinkle and Jhoneiker Betancourt both homered in the game for the Cannon Ballers. Sprinkle's homer was a two-run blast that came in the second and was part of a 3-for-3 night that saw Sprinkle score three rimes and drive in three. Betancourt went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Chris Lanzilli went 3-for-5 with three doubles and six RBI. Eddie Park went 2-for-3 with four runs and a RBI.

The loss was Carolina's second straight and put the first-place Mudcats into a 1-0 hole in their road series in Kannapolis. Carolina's lead in the North Division second half standings shrunk to 4.0 games over the Down East Wood Ducks, but remained at 5.0 ahead of the Lynchburg Hillcats.

HOME RUNS:

Kannapolis: Sprinkle (1, 2nd inning off Vallecillo, 1 on, 2 out); Betancourt (7, 8th inning off Figueroa, 0 on, 0 out).

STOLEN BASES:

Carolina: O'Rae (2, 2nd base off McDaniel/Harris); Barrios (22, 2nd base off McDaniel/Harris).

Kannapolis: Logan (9, 2nd base off Vallecillo/Sibrian).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Castillo, RF (Carolina): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB

Adams, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-5, 1 RBI

Avina, LF (Carolina): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB

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

Sprinkle, 2B (Kannapolis): 3-for-3, 3 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Lanzilli, LF (Kannapolis): 3-for-5, 1 R, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 0 BB

Park, CF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 4 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Talavera (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Castro, O (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:

Cannon Ballers 1st (Cannon Ballers 6, Mudcats 0) -- Mario Camilletti walks. Jacob Gonzalez walks, Mario Camilletti to 2nd. Calvin Harris singles to center field, Mario Camilletti to 3rd; Jacob Gonzalez to 2nd. Eddie Park walks, Mario Camilletti scores; Jacob Gonzalez to 3rd; Calvin Harris to 2nd. Jordan Sprinkle walks, Jacob Gonzalez scores; Calvin Harris to 3rd; Eddie Park to 2nd. Chris Lanzilli doubles through the hole at second base, Calvin Harris scores; Eddie Park scores; Jordan Sprinkle to 3rd. Ryan Galanie out on a sacrifice fly to Luis Castillo, Jordan Sprinkle scores; Chris Lanzilli to 3rd. Jhoneiker Betancourt out on a sacrifice fly to Luis Castillo, Chris Lanzilli scores. Drake Logan struck out looking. (6 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 2nd (Cannon Ballers 6, Mudcats 3) -- Luis Castillo singles through the hole at shortstop, Luis Castillo advances to 2nd on fielding error by Chris Lanzilli. Jace Avina singles through the hole at shortstop, Luis Castillo to 3rd. Jadher Areinamo doubles to left-center field, Luis Castillo scores; Jace Avina to 3rd. Gregory Barrios grounds out, Mario Camilletti to Jhoneiker Betancourt, Jace Avina scores. Dylan O'Rae flies out to Chris Lanzilli. Luke Adams singles to shallow right field, Jadher Areinamo scores. Tayden Hall flies out to Chris Lanzilli. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 9, Mudcats 3) -- Mario Camilletti flies out to Dylan O'Rae. Jacob Gonzalez singles to left field. Calvin Harris lines out to Jace Avina. Eddie Park singles to deep shortstop, Jacob Gonzalez scores; Eddie Park to 3rd; throwing error by Alexander Vallecillo. Jordan Sprinkle hits a home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch, Eddie Park scores. Chris Lanzilli flies out to Luis Castillo. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 4th (Cannon Ballers 11, Mudcats 3) -- Pitcher Change: Gerson Calzadilla replaces Alexander Vallecillo. Jacob Gonzalez flies out to Jace Avina in foul territory. Calvin Harris singles through the hole at second base. Eddie Park singles to shallow left field, Calvin Harris to 2nd. Jordan Sprinkle singles to left-center field, Calvin Harris to 3rd; Eddie Park to 2nd. Chris Lanzilli doubles through the hole at second base, Calvin Harris scores; Eddie Park scores; Jordan Sprinkle to 3rd. Ryan Galanie grounds out, Gerson Calzadilla to Tayden Hall. Jhoneiker Betancourt lines out to Jace Avina. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 5th (Cannon Ballers 13, Mudcats 3) -- Drake Logan singles up the middle. Mario Camilletti doubles to center field, Drake Logan scores. Jacob Gonzalez flies out to Dylan O'Rae, Mario Camilletti to 3rd. Calvin Harris out on a sacrifice fly to Jace Avina, Mario Camilletti scores. Eddie Park walks. Jordan Sprinkle walks, Eddie Park to 2nd. Chris Lanzilli flies out to Luis Castillo. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 7th (Cannon Ballers 15, Mudcats 3) -- Jacob Gonzalez grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Tayden Hall. Calvin Harris walks. Eddie Park grounds into a force out, Gregory Barrios to Jadher Areinamo, Calvin Harris out at 2nd. Jordan Sprinkle singles through the hole at shortstop, Eddie Park to 2nd. Chris Lanzilli doubles to right-center field, Eddie Park scores; Jordan Sprinkle scores. Ryan Galanie grounds out, Gregory Barrios to Tayden Hall. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 8th (Cannon Ballers 16, Mudcats 3) -- Pitcher Change: Jeferson Figueroa replaces Jose Chavez. Jhoneiker Betancourt hits a home run to left-center field on a 3-1 pitch. Drake Logan strikes out swinging. Cristopher De Guzman strikes out swinging. Jacob Gonzalez singles to left-center field. Calvin Harris grounds out, Tayden Hall to Jeferson Figueroa. (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 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 August 15, 2023


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