Mudcats Sweep Pelicans in Thursday's Doubleheader
June 9, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
ZEBULON - Pitching led the way as the Carolina Mudcats swept Thursday's doubleheader with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 3-2 in game 1, and 2-1 in game 2 at Five County Stadium. Stiven Cruz struck out six while earning his first victory in game 1 and Edwin Jimenez pitched through five scoreless while earning his first win in game 2. Jackson Chourio and Jeferson Quero led the way offensively with Chourio going 3-for-3 with a home run in game 2 and Quero collecting two hits and two runs across both games.
The Mudcats (30-24) took both games of Thursday's doubleheader with the Pelicans (37-17) and moved into a 2-1 series lead against the Carolina League South leading Pelicans. Carolina also took over sole possession of first in the Carolina League North standings as they now own a 1.0 game lead on the Lynchburg Hillcats.
Stiven Cruz earned his first win of the of the season after totaling six strikeouts and working around an Ezequiel Pagan home run in the third while leading the Mudcats to the 3-2 game 1 victory. Cruz (1-1) scattered four hits and walked one while allowing just two Myrtle Beach runs in the doubleheader opening victory.
Relievers Brannon Jordan and Karlos Morales finished game 1 with a scoreless sixth and seventh respectively. Jordan struck out two in the sixth while earning his first hold. Morales (S, 2) faced five batters and left two men on in the seventh while earning his second save.
The scoring started early for the Mudcats in their game 1 victory as Chourio reached on an error and scored on a run-scoring hit from Quero. Hedbert Perez then followed with a single to right to force in Quero as the Mudcats took the early 2-0 lead. Jose Sibrian then lifted Carolina to a 3-0 lead in the second after reaching on a ground rule double before scoring on a balk later in the frame.
The Mudcats led 3-0 in game 1 before Pagan connected on his home run off Cruz in the third. That home run cut the lead to 3-2, but Cruz and the Carolina bullpen would hold the lead as the Mudcats picked up the doubleheader opening victory.
Game 2 then saw another gem turned in by the Carolina pitching staff with Edwin Jimenez earning the win and Israel Puello getting the save. Jimenez (1-1) struck out three, forced seven groundouts (including a double-play), and scattered two hits while earning the win and pitching through five scoreless innings. Puello (S, 1) then worked the final two innings while earning his first save. He also struck out three, walked two, allowed a run, and left two men on base in the final inning to end the game.
Chourio led the way offensively in game 2 while going 3-for-3 with a single in the first, a go-ahead solo home run in the fourth and a triple in the sixth. His fourth inning homer was later followed by a run from Quero as the Mudcats went up 2-0. The Pelicans later rallied for a run in the seventh, but Carolina held on for the twin-bill sweep clinching victory.
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