Mudcats Hit Back-To-Back-To-Back Homers in 13-1 Victory
July 22, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
Carolina Mudcats' Jace Avina
(Carolina Mudcats)
ZEBULON, N.C. - Jose Sibrian, Jace Avina and Kay-Lan Nicasia hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the second and Logan Henderson pitched through his first career quality start as the first-place Carolina Mudcats won their fifth straight game, 13-1 versus the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.
Avina totaled game highs in hits, runs, home runs and RBI while going 4-for-5 with four runs scored, four RBI and two homers for the Mudcats (13-9, 46-39). Avina's first home run came in the second and was the second of three straight allowed by Cannon Ballers (10-13, 45-43) starter Noah Schultz. Avina's second inning home run was a solo shot that accounted for the second of three consecutive Carolina homers and the third of six runs allowed by Schultz (L, 0-1).
Jesus Chirinos started Carolina's second inning rally with a single to set the table for Sibrian, Avina and Nicasia and Carolina's back-to-back-to-back homer spree. The Mudcats led 2-1 after Sibrian's homer, 3-1 after Avina's and 4-1 after Nicasia's. The Mudcats last hit three consecutive home runs on August 1, 2008 (Grant Psomas, Brad Davis, Chris DeLaCruz) in Tennessee.
The Mudcats finished the second with two more runs on a two-run single from Jadher Areinamo while taking a 6-1 lead. They then went up 8-1 in the third after Nicasia drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and Jesus Parra driving in one with a RBI single off reliever Ben Beutel. Parra also doubled in a run in the seventh while finishing the game 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Henderson (W, 2-2) earned the win while pitching through a career-high six innings and earning his first career quality start. Henderson allowed a run on one hit in the first, but went on to hold the visiting Cannon Ballers to just one other hit the rest of the way. Overall, Henderson totaled six strikeouts, two walks and two hits.
Reliever Jesus Rivero finished the game while earning the save with three scoreless innings. Rivero (S, 2) struck out five and walked one while pitching the seventh, eighth and ninth.
The victory was Carolina's fifth straight and lifted them to a 5-0 lead in the six-game series. The victory also lifted the Mudcats to a 22-21 home record, putting them above .500 at home for the first time since they were 12-11 on June 6.
Carolina's series with Kannapolis concludes on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with RHP Will Childers starting for the Mudcats.
HOME RUNS:
Carolina: Sibrian (5, 2nd inning off Schultz, 1 on, 0 out); Avina 2 (10, 2nd inning off Schultz, 0 on, 0 out, 8th inning off Cable, 2 on, 2 out); Nicasia (4, 2nd inning off Schultz, 0 on, 0 out).
STOLEN BASES:
Carolina: Areinamo (8, 2nd base off Beutel/Claunch).
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Avina, LF (Carolina): 4-for-5, 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 BB
Sibrian, C (Carolina): 1-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Nicasia, CF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB
Areinamo, 3B (Carolina): 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Nolasco (Kannapolis): 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Henderson (W, 2-2) (Carolina): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Rivero (S, 2) (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
SCORING:
Cannon Ballers 1st (Cannon Ballers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Mario Camilletti doubles to left-center field. Brooks Baldwin grounds out, Alexander Perez to Jesus Parra, Mario Camilletti to 3rd. Bryce Willits hit by pitch. Chris Lanzilli grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Jesus Parra, Mario Camilletti scores; Bryce Willits to 2nd. Troy Claunch struck out looking. (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 6, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Jesus Chirinos singles to center field. Jose Sibrian hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Jesus Chirinos scores. Jace Avina hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch. Kay-Lan Nicasia hits a home run to left-center field on a 3-2 pitch. Jesus Parra reaches on fielding error by Javier Mora. Alexander Perez pops out to Bryce Willits. Gregory Barrios reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Noah Schultz. throwing error by Noah Schultz. Wild pitch by Noah Schultz, Jesus Parra to 3rd; Gregory Barrios to 2nd. Jadher Areinamo singles to right field, Jesus Parra scores; Gregory Barrios scores. Pitcher Change: Ben Beutel replaces Noah Schultz. Jadher Areinamo steals 2nd base. Jadher Areinamo picked off and caught stealing 3rd base, Ben Beutel to Wilber Sanchez to Brooks Baldwin. Luis Castillo walks. Jesus Chirinos flies out to Logan Glass. (6 Runs, 5 Hits, 2 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 8, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Jose Sibrian reaches on fielding error by Brooks Baldwin. Jace Avina doubles to left field, Jose Sibrian to 3rd. Kay-Lan Nicasia out on a sacrifice fly to Drake Logan, Jose Sibrian scores. Jesus Parra singles up the middle, Jace Avina scores. Alexander Perez grounds into double play, Brooks Baldwin to Javier Mora to Bryce Willits, Jesus Parra out at 2nd, Alexander Perez out at 1st. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)
Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 10, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Pitcher Change: Logan Lyle replaces Yohemy Nolasco. Jose Sibrian walks. Jace Avina singles to right field, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Kay-Lan Nicasia grounds into a force out, fielded by Brooks Baldwin, Jose Sibrian out at 3rd, Jace Avina to 2nd. Jesus Parra doubles to shallow left field, Jace Avina scores; Kay-Lan Nicasia to 3rd. Alexander Perez grounds out, Wilber Sanchez to Bryce Willits, Kay-Lan Nicasia scores. Gregory Barrios pops out to Bryce Willits in foul territory. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 13, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Pitcher Change: Zach Cable replaces Logan Lyle. Jadher Areinamo doubles to center field. Luis Castillo lines out to Logan Glass. Jesus Chirinos walks. Jose Sibrian flies out to Logan Glass. Wild pitch by Zach Cable, Jadher Areinamo to 3rd; Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Jace Avina hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch, Jadher Areinamo scores; Jesus Chirinos scores. Kay-Lan Nicasia singles to shallow left field. Jesus Parra grounds into a force out, Brooks Baldwin to Javier Mora, Kay-Lan Nicasia out at 2nd. (3 Runs, 3 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.
Images from this story
 Carolina Mudcats' Jace Avina |
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