Mudcats Squash Augusta Rally to Take Series Lead
April 18, 2024 - Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC - The Carolina Mudcats (10-2) lost an early three-run lead Thursday night at SRP Park, but a late surge in the eighth coupled with clutch pitching was enough to push them past the Augusta GreenJackets (6-6) for a 4-3 victory. With the win, Carolina has now stretched its lead in the North Division to three games.
The Mudcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. With two outs in the inning, Augusta starter Didier Fuentes walked back-to-back batters in Tayden Hall and Daniel Guilarte to bring up Luis Castillo. The Carolina left fielder sent a line drive the other way that just cleared the wall in left for a three-run home run, Castillo's second of the season.
Mudcats starter Bishop Letson, making his second professional start, put together a solid three innings on the mound. The Brewers' 2023 11th round draft pick struck out a pair without allowing a hit, conceding one unearned run on a third inning fielding error from Juan Baez.
The GreenJackets clawed their way back even in the bottom of the fifth against Carolina reliever Yujanyer Herrera (W, 2-0). Pier-Olivier Boucher drew a leadoff walk before Isaiah Drake lined an RBI triple to right. Moments later, Drake scored the tying run on a Diego Benitez single. However, Herrera quickly settled down the rest of the way as he went five innings, striking out six to bring his season total to a team-leading 21 punch outs.
With the game tied at three in the top of the eighth, Yhoswar Garcia woke the Mudcats' bats up with a lead off double off Augusta reliever Beau Philip (L, 0-1) and stole his league-leading 11th base to get to third with one out. Baez drew a walk to bring up Yophery Rodriguez, who brought Garcia home on an infield single to give Carolina the lead for good.
Jeferson Figueroa (SV, 1) entered the game out of the Mudcats bullpen to preserve the one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and did just that. Figueroa faced the minimum to secure his first save of 2024.
Carolina will look to secure at worst a series split with a win on Friday night in North Augusta. RHP Josh Knoth gets the start for the Mudcats opposite RHP Garrett Baumann for the GreenJackets. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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.
Carolina League Stories from April 18, 2024
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- Shorebirds Lose Third Straight Game to Wood Ducks - Delmarva Shorebirds
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