Mudcats Mash 13 Hits in 7-4 Series Opening Victory
Published on April 25, 2023 under Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
ZEBULON, N.C. - Jace Avina hit a solo home run in the sixth, Jadher Areinamo, Daniel Guilarte and Gregory Barrios each had two hits and Kay-Lan Nicasia went 3-for-3 with a double as the Carolina Mudcats totaled a season-high 13 hits in a 7-4 series opening victory versus the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.
The Mudcats (9-6) were down 1-0 through the fourth before rallying for three two-out runs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. They then opened things up with a four-run sixth while going up 7-1 in Tuesday's series opener. The Cannon Ballers (10-5) got a three-run home run from Tim Elko in the seventh, but Carolina would the lead the rest of the way while taking the series opener 7-4.
Edwin Jimenez (W, 2-0) earned the victory for the Mudcats after tossing four scoreless frames with just one hit and eight strikeouts. His outing began with three straight groundouts in the fourth, three straight strikeouts in the fifth and seven consecutive outs overall.
Jacob Misiorowski started and struck out four over two innings. Nick Merkel pitched a scoreless third while following Misiorowski and setting things up for Jimenez. Jeferson Figueroa later allowed Elko's home run in the eighth, but Shane Smith finished it out with a scoreless ninth while earning his second save.
Areinamo started Carolina's big fifth inning rally with a one-out single to left off Cannon Ballers starter Chase McCullough. Nicasia went on to reach on a walk, but McCullough (L, 1-2) would catch Nicasia off of first with a pick off. Guilarte then followed with a two-out single that caromed off McCullough's chest before landing between the mound and first base. Guilarte's two-out infield hit brought in Areinamo to tie the game at 1-1. Barrios followed with a single of his own to knock McCullough out of the game.
Reliever Emerson Talavera went on to take over out of the bullpen and was immediately greeted by a Hedbert Perez go-ahead, two-run double. Talavera stayed on for the sixth and went on to allow Avina's home run and five straight hits overall before leaving the game. Areinamo, Nicasia, Guilarte and Barrios each singled immediately after Avina's home run as the Mudcats rallied for four runs on five hits in the frame.
Kannapolis reliever Chase Krogman eventually finished the sixth by getting two outs and leaving the bases loaded. A former position player, the appearance was Krogman's first as a pitcher in his career.
The victory was Carolina's third straight and gave the Mudcats a 1-0 lead in the six-game series. The series will continue on Wednesday morning with an 11:00 a.m. start time at Five County Stadium.
HOME RUNS:
Kannapolis: HR: Elko (5, 8th inning off Figueroa, 2 on, 0 out).
Carolina: HR: Avina (2, 6th inning off Talavera, 0 on, 1 out).
TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Elko, 1B (Kannapolis): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Glass, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Weaver, CF (Kannapolis): 1-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Nicasia, DH (Carolina): 3-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Avina, RF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Guilarte, 3B (Carolina): 2-for-5, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Barrios, SS (Carolina): 2-for-5, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI
TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Krogman (Kannapolis): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Mechals (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
Misiorowski (Carolina): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Merkel (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Jimenez (W, 2-0) (Carolina): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO
Smith (S, 2) (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
SCORING:
Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Brooks Baldwin walks. Luis Pineda flies out to Jace Avina. Drake Logan strikes out swinging,Drake Logan out on batter interference. Logan Glass singles to left-center field, Brooks Baldwin to 2nd. Caberea Weaver singles to left field, Brooks Baldwin scores; Logan Glass to 3rd. Caberea Weaver steals 2nd base. Wilber Sanchez flies out to Jace Avina.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 3, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Jace Avina grounds out, Connor McCullough to Tim Elko. Jadher Areinamo singles to left-center field. Jadher Areinamo advances to 2nd on a balk. Kaylan Nicasia walks. Luis Pineda picks off Kaylan Nicasia at on throw to Tim Elko. Daniel Guilarte singles to deep second base, Jadher Areinamo scores. Gregory Barrios singles to left-center field, Daniel Guilarte to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Emerson Talavera replaces Connor McCullough. Hedbert Perez doubles to right field, Daniel Guilarte scores; Gregory Barrios scores. Luke Adams walks. Matthew Wood strikes out swinging.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Eduarqui Fernandez strikes out swinging. Jace Avina hits a home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch. Jadher Areinamo singles to right field. Kaylan Nicasia singles through the hole at second base, Jadher Areinamo to 2nd. Daniel Guilarte singles to right field, Jadher Areinamo scores; Kaylan Nicasia to 3rd. Daniel Guilarte steals 2nd base, Kaylan Nicasia steals home. Gregory Barrios singles to center field, Daniel Guilarte scores. Pitcher Change: Chase Krogman replaces Emerson Talavera. Hedbert Perez flies out to Caberea Weaver. Luke Adams walks, Gregory Barrios to 2nd. Matthew Wood walks, Gregory Barrios to 3rd; Luke Adams to 2nd. Eduarqui Fernandez strikes out swinging.
(4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)
Cannon Ballers 8th (Mudcats 7, Cannon Ballers 4) -- Pitcher Change: Jeferson Figueroa replaces Edwin Jimenez. Jordan Sprinkle singles to left field. Mario Camilletti walks, Jordan Sprinkle to 2nd. Tim Elko hits a home run to left-center field on a 2-0 pitch, Jordan Sprinkle scores; Mario Camilletti scores. Brooks Baldwin pops out to Daniel Guilarte in foul territory. Luis Pineda strikes out swinging. Drake Logan strikes out swinging.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
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