CarL Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Suffer Fourth Straight Loss in Rain-Shortened Game

Published on August 28, 2021 under Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


FREDERICKSBURG - Ernesto Martinez went 1-for-2 with a run while stretching his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games and Sal Frelick went 2-for-4 while recording his eighth multi-hit game, but the Mudcats fell short of completing a comeback while losing their fourth straight 5-4 to the Fredericksburg Nationals in a rain-shortened game at FredNats Ballpark on Saturday night.

The Mudcats (60-41) trailed early as the Nationals (37-64) scored once in the first and three times in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Carolina eventually answered with a run in the third with a sac fly from Noah Campbell, but a home run from Juan Paulino in the last of the third increased the FredNats lead to 5-1.

Carolina then scored once in the fourth when Martinez singled and scored on a RBI hit from Darrien Miller. They then scored twice more in the fifth with help of a botched, bases loaded double play attempt that scored both Frelick and Campbell. Carolina was down 5-4 after five, but neither side scored again as rain washed the game away in the eighth. Carolina had two men on in the eighth when the game was called after both Wes Clarke and Ernesto Martinez were hit-by-pitches to start the inning.

Michele Vassalotti started and took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits over and inning and 2/3. Vassalotti (5-7, 6.68) allowed a run, walked two and faced six batters in the first. He then came back out for the second where he allowed three runs and two hits. Reliever Miguel Guerrero eventually took over for Vassalotti in the second and finished the frame with two men left on base. Vassalotti reached 62 pitches, with only 27 strikes, in the loss.

Guerrero remained in for the third and fourth and would allow just one more Fredericksburg run over his two and 1/3 innings. He gave up Paulino's home run, but allowed just the one run and one hit in his appearance. Guerrero also struck out one while reaching 30 pitches with 21 strikes.

Reliever Nate Peden then worked three straight scoreless innings with five strikeouts across the fifth, sixth and seventh while keeping the game locked at 5-4. Peden also worked through three scoreless frames in his previous appearance earlier in the series on August 25.

Reliever Lucas Knowles earned the win for Fredericksburg after holding the Mudcats scoreless over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Knowles (1-1, 4.76) totaled four strikeouts over his two and 1/3 innings pitched. Karlo Seijas started and allowed all four Carolina runs while pitching into the fifth. Seijas also allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out six.

The loss was Carolina's fourth straight and sealed a series win for the Nationals as they took a 4-1 lead in the series. The loss, combined with a victory by the Down East Wood Ducks, moved Carolina into a tie for first in the Low-A East Central standings with Down East. The Wood Ducks also moved into a tie with Carolina for the league's second best overall record.

HOME RUNS:

Fredericksburg HR : Paulino (3, 3rd inning off Guerrero, 0 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Paulino, C (Fredericksburg): 2-for-2, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

De La Rosa, CF (Fredericksburg): 2-for-3, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Boissiere, 1B (Fredericksburg): 2-for-4, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Frelick, CF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Campbell, LF (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Martinez, E, DH (Carolina): 1-for-2, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Miller, D, C (Carolina): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Raabe, SS (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Guerrero (Carolina): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Peden (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Seijas (Fredericksburg): 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Knowles (W, 1-1) (Fredericksburg): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

SCORING:

Nationals 1st (Nationals 1, Mudcats 0) -- Jeremy De La Rosa singles through the hole at second base. Wild pitch by Michele Vassalotti, Jeremy De La Rosa to 3rd. Darren Baker out on a sacrifice fly to Micah Bello, Jeremy De La Rosa scores. Jose Sanchez walks. Branden Boissiere flies out to Noah Campbell. Leandro Emiliani walks, Jose Sanchez to 2nd. Jaden Fein struck out looking.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Nationals 2nd (Nationals 4, Mudcats 0) -- Juan Paulino walks. Braian Fernandez strikes out swinging. Jake Boone walks, Juan Paulino to 2nd. Jeremy De La Rosa singles to left field, Juan Paulino scores; Jake Boone to 2nd. Darren Baker reaches on fielding error by Wes Clarke, Jake Boone to 3rd; Jeremy De La Rosa to 2nd. Jose Sanchez pops out to Tyler Black on the infield fly rule. Branden Boissiere singles to right-center field, Jake Boone scores; Jeremy De La Rosa scores; Darren Baker to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Miguel Guerrero replaces Michele Vassalotti. Leandro Emiliani grounds out, Zack Raabe to Wes Clarke.

(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 3rd (Nationals 4, Mudcats 1) -- Zack Raabe singles up the middle. Passed ball by Juan Paulino, Zack Raabe to 2nd. Sal Frelick grounds out, Branden Boissiere to Karlo Seijas, Zack Raabe to 3rd. Noah Campbell out on a sacrifice fly to Jaden Fein, Zack Raabe scores. Tyler Black grounds out to Branden Boissiere.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Nationals 3rd (Nationals 5, Mudcats 1) -- Jaden Fein lines out to Zack Raabe. Juan Paulino hits a home run to right field on a 1-0 pitch. Braian Fernandez grounds out, Darrien Miller to Wes Clarke. Jake Boone lines out to Micah Bello.

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 4th (Nationals 5, Mudcats 2) -- Alex Binelas strikes out swinging. Wes Clarke struck out looking. Ernesto Martinez singles to right-center field. Micah Bello singles to right field, Ernesto Martinez to 2nd. Darrien Miller singles to left field, Ernesto Martinez scores; Micah Bello out at 3rd on the throw, Braian Fernandez to Jose Sanchez to Jake Boone.

(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 5th (Nationals 5, Mudcats 4) -- Zack Raabe strikes out swinging. Sal Frelick singles to right field. Noah Campbell singles to right field, Sal Frelick to 2nd. Tyler Black walks, Sal Frelick to 3rd; Noah Campbell to 2nd. Alex Binelas reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by Branden Boissiere, Sal Frelick scores; Noah Campbell scores; throwing error by Branden Boissiere. Wes Clarke struck out looking. Ernesto Martinez walks, Alex Binelas to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Lucas Knowles replaces Karlo Seijas. Micah Bello strikes out swinging.

(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB)

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Carolina League Stories from August 28, 2021


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