CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Fall in Both Games of Doubleheader in Lynchburg

Published on June 15, 2016 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


LYNCHBURG, VA - Joseph Odom hit a home run in game two and Joey Meneses had three hits over games one and two of the twin bill while raising his average to a league high .345, but the Mudcats lost both games of their doubleheader in Lynchburg 7-3 and 9-4 respectively on Tuesday night.

Ryan Clark started in game one for the Mudcats and gave up back-to-back home runs to Taylor Murphy and Anthony Santandar in the first. Clark (0-8, 6.26) allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits overall in game one and lost his fifth straight start. Clark walked one and struck out one, but fought through the fourth while working into the fifth with a season high 103 pitches thrown.

Santandar was 3-for-3 with two runs and Murphy was 1-for-3 with two RBI in the game one win for the Hillcats (42-23). Their home runs in the first brought Clark's season total in home runs allowed to a league worst 11 on the season. He also leads the league in most losses and runs allowed.

The Mudcats trailed 4-0 after the first in game one before getting one across in the second on a RBI single from Sal Giardina. They also scored twice in the seventh on a two run single from Omar Obregon, but fell 7-3 in game one in Lynchburg.

Giardina was 2-for-3 with a RBI for the Mudcats in game one. He also pitched the final inning and 1/3 of an inning and finished the game after Clark left in the fifth. Giardina faced only five batters, walked one and stranded two inherited runners on base while pitching in a game for the first time this season.

Mitch Brown started for Lynchburg in game one, but only worked through the fourth before leaving the game. He walked five and struck out four in a no decision. Reliever Cameron Hill (5-0, 2.38) picked up the win after striking out two, walking one and allowing two runs on four hits.

Odom, meanwhile, was held without a hit in game one and saw his hitting streak end at a career high nine straight games. He came back, however, with a home run in game two and was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. His home run was his team high seventh of the season and was Carolina's first hit and first run scored in game two against Sean Brady and the Hillcats.

The Mudcats trailed 4-0 before Odom's solo shot in the fourth inning in game two. His homer sparked a four run and five hit rally that saw the Mudcats tie the game at 4-4. Meneses had a broken bat double to right in in the fourth and was driven in moments later on a one-out double to center by Braxton Davidson. Tanner Murphy then came through with his third double in his last three games and Erison Mendez finished the rally with a two-out RBI single to right.

Brady (5-3, 5.23) allowed all four runs in the fourth and gave up five hits in the inning. He stayed in the game, despite the big rally, and ended up working through six innings while earning the victory. Brady gave up a total of four runs on eight hits and finished with a walk and five strikeouts in the victory.

Zack Bird started game two for the Mudcats and pitched through a scoreless first before allowing three runs and four hits in the second. He stayed in for part of the third, but left after allowing a run and one hit in the inning. Carlos Salazar relieved Bird in the third and eventually got the Mudcats out of the frame without any other runs allowed.

Salazar returned for the fourth, but lost the 4-4 tie after giving up a leadoff single to Claudio Bautista, walking two straight and eventually walking in the go-ahead run. He also lost a wild pitch while facing Mark Mathais to plate another run and was pulled from the game.

Taylor Lewis entered the game in place of Salazar (1-3, 3.38) and came in with two men on and in a 2-0 count on Mathais. Lewis then allowed a single to right-center and two runs came across to put the Hillcats up 8-4. Lewis later allowed another RBI in the inning and finished with one earned run and two inherited runners allowed in over 2/3 of an inning. Salazar also pitched through just 2/3 of an inning and took the loss after giving up four runs on one hit and four walks.

A.J. Minter later enter the game in the fifth and managed to hold the Hillcats without a run. He also allowed two hits and struck out one.

Mendez pitched the sixth and became the second position player to pitch in Tuesday's doubleheader and third position player to pitch for the Mudcats this season. Mendez faced four batters in his inning and finished with a walk over one scoreless.

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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Carolina League Stories from June 15, 2016


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