CarL Carolina Mudcats

Win Streak Ends at Five Straight in 17-7 Loss

Published on July 23, 2023 under Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Jace Avina of the Carolina Mudcats
Jace Avina of the Carolina Mudcats
(Carolina Mudcats, Credit: Neal Hock)

ZEBULON, N.C. - Jace Avina drove in three runs while collecting three hits, Luke Adams scored twice and Jadher Areinamo drove in two runs on two hits, but the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers scored 17 runs and totaled 19 hits while defeating the Carolina Mudcats 17-7 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium. The loss put an end to Carolina's five-game winning streak, but the Mudcats still took the series five games to one.

The Mudcats (13-10, 46-40) originally led 2-0 after scoring twice in the first off Kannapolis (11-13, 46-43) starter Mason Adams. The Cannon Ballers, however, answered back with a run in the third and fourth to tie the game at 2-2 before taking the lead with two runs in the fifth. The Mudcats bounced back with three runs in the last of the fifth to go up 5-4, but Kannapolis took the lead for good with two, two-out, two-run home runs in the sixth while salvaging the series finale victory.

Will Childers started and allowed two runs across the third and fourth before leaving the game with two runners on in the fifth. Tyler Wehrle took over in the fifth and would go on to allowed two inherited runners to score while seeing the Cannon Ballers take a 4-2 lead. Wehrle (L, 6-5) stayed in for the sixth, but lost the 5-4 lead while allowing the two, two-out, two-run home runs to Mario Camilletti and Bryce Willits.

The Cannon Ballers led 8-5 after the sixth, but started to run away with the game with five in the seventh inning runs off relievers Jose Chavez and Jeison Pena. Camilletti and Willits both drove in runs in the seventh and led the way while combining for nine RBI in the game.

Yerlin Rodriguez and Jeferson Figueroa combined to allow the final four Kannapolis runs across the eighth and ninth with Rodriguez giving up two on a wild pitch and RBI groundout, and Figueroa giving up a two-run home run to Chris Lanzilli.

The Mudcats were down 17-5 going into the ninth, but went on to score two runs to avoid suffering their most lopsided loss of the season. They ended up falling by 10, one run shy of matching their season-worst loss of 11-0 at Down East on June 30. Carolina did, however, allow season-highs in runs and hits in the lopsided loss.

Avina went 3-for-5 with two runs, a double and three RBI while turning in his second straight multi-hit and multi-RBI game. Avina's first hit was a RBI single in the first that lifted Carolina to a 2-0 lead. His second hit came in the fifth and brought the Mudcats back within one at 4-3. Avina's third and final hit was a RBI double in the ninth that scored the first of two ninth inning runs for the Mudcats.

Like Avina, Adams also had RBI single in the first as he drove in the first run of the game with a single to right. He later walked and scored in the fifth and scored on Avina's double in the ninth after being hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Adams also walked and reached base safely four times while raising his season on-base percentage to .429. Camilletti, who went 5-for-7 with five runs batted in, leads the Carolina League with a .436 OBP.

Despite the loss, the Mudcats remained in first place in the Carolina League North second half standings by one game. Carolina is off on Monday, but will play again on Tuesday in Columbia beginning at 7:05 p.m.

HOME RUNS:

Kannapolis: Camilletti (2, 6th inning off Wehrle, 1 on, 2 out); Willits (12, 6th inning off Wehrle, 1 on, 2 out); Lanzilli (2, 9th inning off Figueroa, 1 on, 0 out).

STOLEN BASES:

Kannapolis: Sanchez, W (18, 2nd base off Childers/Cabrera); Gonzalez (3, 3rd base off Chavez, J/Cabrera); Logan (6, 2nd base off Chavez, J/Cabrera).

Carolina: Avina (9, 2nd base off Hammerberg/Gonzalez).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Camilletti, 2B (Kannapolis): 5-for-7, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Baldwin, DH (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 BB

Willits, 3B (Kannapolis): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB

Lanzilli, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-6, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Avina, DH (Carolina): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI

Adams, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Areinamo, 2B (Carolina): 2-for-4, 2 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Hammerberg (W, 1-2) (Kannapolis): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Andujar (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Talavera (Kannapolis): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 1st (Mudcats 2, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Tayden Hall singles to center field. Daniel Guilarte singles up the middle, Tayden Hall to 2nd. Luis Lara strikes out swinging. Luke Adams singles through the hole at second base, Tayden Hall scores; Daniel Guilarte to 3rd. Kay-Lan Nicasia pops out to Bryce Willits in foul territory. Jace Avina singles to right field, Daniel Guilarte scores; Luke Adams to 3rd. Jadher Areinamo grounds out, Wilber Sanchez to Jhoneiker Betancourt. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 3rd (Mudcats 2, Cannon Ballers 1) -- Juan Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Drake Logan lines out to Tayden Hall. Wilber Sanchez walks. Wilber Sanchez steals 2nd base. Mario Camilletti doubles to right field, Wilber Sanchez scores. Brooks Baldwin flies out to Luis Lara. (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 4th (Cannon Ballers 2, Mudcats 2) -- Bryce Willits walks. Jhoneiker Betancourt singles to left-center field, Bryce Willits to 2nd. Chris Lanzilli singles to left-center field, Bryce Willits to 3rd; Jhoneiker Betancourt to 2nd. Ryan McCarthy singles to right-center field, Bryce Willits scores; Jhoneiker Betancourt to 3rd; Chris Lanzilli to 2nd. Juan Gonzalez pops out to Jadher Areinamo on the infield fly rule. Drake Logan struck out looking. Wilber Sanchez flies out to Luis Lara. (1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 5th (Cannon Ballers 4, Mudcats 2) -- Mario Camilletti bunt singles to shallow left field. Brooks Baldwin singles to right-center field, Mario Camilletti to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Tyler Wehrle replaces Will Childers. Bryce Willits singles to right-center field, Mario Camilletti scores; Brooks Baldwin to 3rd. Jhoneiker Betancourt out on a sacrifice fly to Luis Lara, Brooks Baldwin scores. Chris Lanzilli lines out to Kay-Lan Nicasia. Ryan McCarthy grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Tayden Hall. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 5, Cannon Ballers 4) -- Luis Lara reaches on throwing error by Jhoneiker Betancourt. Luke Adams walks, Luis Lara to 2nd. Kay-Lan Nicasia flies out to Ryan McCarthy, Luis Lara to 3rd. Jace Avina singles to center field, Luis Lara scores; Luke Adams to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Ethan Hammerberg replaces Mason Adams. Jace Avina steals 2nd base. Luke Adams scores on a balk; Jace Avina advances to 3rd on a balk. Jadher Areinamo out on a sacrifice fly to Chris Lanzilli, Jace Avina scores. Reidy Mercado struck out looking. (3 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 6th (Cannon Ballers 8, Mudcats 5) -- Juan Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Drake Logan walks. Wilber Sanchez lines out to Luke Adams. Mario Camilletti hits a home run to right field on a 2-1 pitch, Drake Logan scores. Brooks Baldwin singles to left-center field. Bryce Willits hits a home run to right field on a 1-2 pitch, Brooks Baldwin scores. Jhoneiker Betancourt struck out looking. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 7th (Cannon Ballers 13, Mudcats 5) -- Pitcher Change: Jose Chavez replaces Tyler Wehrle. Chris Lanzilli strikes out swinging, Jhonnys Cabrera to Tayden Hall. Ryan McCarthy triples to left-center field. Juan Gonzalez singles to right-center field, Ryan McCarthy scores. Drake Logan walks, Juan Gonzalez to 2nd. Juan Gonzalez steals 3rd base. Drake Logan steals 2nd base. Wilber Sanchez walks. Mario Camilletti singles to right-center field, Juan Gonzalez scores; Drake Logan scores; Wilber Sanchez to 3rd. Brooks Baldwin walks, Mario Camilletti to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Jeison Pena replaces Jose Chavez. Bryce Willits singles to right field, Wilber Sanchez scores; Mario Camilletti to 3rd; Brooks Baldwin to 2nd. Jhoneiker Betancourt hit by pitch, Mario Camilletti scores; Brooks Baldwin to 3rd; Bryce Willits to 2nd. Chris Lanzilli strikes out swinging. Ryan McCarthy strikes out swinging. (5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 8th (Cannon Ballers 15, Mudcats 5) -- Pitcher Change: Yerlin Rodriguez replaces Jeison Pena. Juan Gonzalez hit by pitch. Wild pitch by Yerlin Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez to 2nd. Drake Logan singles to right-center field, Juan Gonzalez to 3rd. Wilber Sanchez grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Tayden Hall, Juan Gonzalez scores; Drake Logan to 2nd. Mario Camilletti singles to left-center field, Drake Logan to 3rd. Wild pitch by Yerlin Rodriguez, Drake Logan scores; Mario Camilletti to 2nd. Brooks Baldwin struck out looking. Bryce Willits strikes out swinging, Jhonnys Cabrera to Tayden Hall. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 9th (Cannon Ballers 17, Mudcats 5) -- Pitcher Change: Jeferson Figueroa replaces Yerlin Rodriguez. Jhoneiker Betancourt walks. Chris Lanzilli hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch, Jhoneiker Betancourt scores. Ryan McCarthy grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Tayden Hall. Juan Gonzalez singles to left-center field. Drake Logan grounds into a force out, Luke Adams to Jadher Areinamo, Juan Gonzalez out at 2nd. Wilber Sanchez doubles to left field, Drake Logan to 3rd. Mario Camilletti flies out to Reidy Mercado in foul territory. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 9th (Cannon Ballers 17, Mudcats 7) -- Pitcher Change: Billy Seidl replaces Emerson Talavera. Luis Lara strikes out swinging. Luke Adams hit by pitch. Kay-Lan Nicasia strikes out swinging. Jace Avina doubles to left-center field, Luke Adams scores. Wild pitch by Billy Seidl, Jace Avina to 3rd. Jadher Areinamo singles to left-center field, Jace Avina scores. (2 Runs, 2 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.

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Images from this story

Jace Avina of the Carolina Mudcats
Jace Avina of the Carolina Mudcats
(Neal Hock)		   



Carolina League Stories from July 23, 2023


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