Edgerton delivers walk-off; Mudcats win 3-2

ZEBULON, NC - Keith Curcio started the tenth with a leadoff triple to left, and after back-to-back intentional walks, Jordan Edgerton would eventually came through with a walk-off single as the Mudcats defeated Potomac 3-2 in ten innings on Thursday night in Zebulon.

The win lifted the Mudcats (14-18) to a series victory and happened in nearly the same fashion as their series opening victory on Tuesday against the visiting Nationals (17-14). A leadoff triple set the stage for a walk-off single in game one on Tuesday and a leadoff triple, back-to-back intentionally walks and a walk-off single worked again for the win again on Thursday. The walk-off win was Carolina's second of the season and second in the series against Potomac.

Edgerton was 1-for-4 in the game with a walk. Curcio doubled and tripled in the game and was 2-for-5 with the winning run. His triple in the tenth came off reliever Justin Thomas and was immediately followed by back-to-back intentional walks as the Nationals attempted to set up a force at every base in the final inning. They also brought in left-fielder Alec Keller to play up the middle near second while loading up their infield with five defenders. Edgerton beat the defense with his liner over third baseman Drew Ward and managed to lift the Mudcats to the 3-2 home win.

Thomas (1-2, 8.10) retired a batter in the ninth to help force extras, but finished with only one out recorded in the game. He finished with a run and two hits allowed while taking the loss. Sean McLaughlin earned the win for the Mudcats after pitching through a scoreless tenth inning. McLaughlin (1-1, 2.03) allowed a hit, but faced only three in the tenth and final inning. His catcher Tanner Murphy caught shortstop Osvaldo Abreu attempting to steal second in the tenth.

The Mudcats scored first in Thursday's extra innings win. They brought a run across in the second when Ryan Gebhardt singled in Braxton Davidson from second and took a 1-0 lead. Davidson walked in the second and finished the game with two walks and a run scored.

Carolina added to the lead in the fifth with back-to-back doubles from Gebhardt and Reed Harper and went up 2-0 after five. Gebhardt was 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI; Harper was 1-for-4 with a RBI as well.

Potomac came back with a home run from Narcisso Mesa in the sixth and managed to tie the game after scoring a run on an infield hit to third in the seventh. Bryan Mejia doubled with two outs in the seventh and scored from second on a soft roller to third off the bat of Alec Keller. Edgerton attempted to make a barehand grab and throw to first on the ball hit to him at third, but came up short while attempting to scoop the ball off the grass. Mejia continued around third from second on the play and scored just moments ahead of Edgerton's eventual throw to the plate.

Carolina's starter Enderson Franco allowed both sixth and seventh inning runs, but gave up just two over seven solid innings on Thursday night. Franco struck out four, did not issue a walk and scattered five hits while pitching through the seventh for the first time this season. It was also the sixth time in his career that he was able to work through seven full innings in a start.

Luis Reyes started for the Nationals and allowed two earned runs and five hits over six innings pitched. He left before the seventh and was followed by Greg Ross and Mick VanVossen before Thomas came in. Ross worked through the seventh and eighth and kept the Mudcats scoreless and to just one hit. The left-handed throwing VanVossen worked part of the ninth and retired both of the lefties he was assigned to pitch to.

Franco left after holding the Nationals to just two runs over seven innings and reliever Carlos Salazar took over from there. Salazar pitched the eighth and ninth and worked around three walks while holding Potomac scoreless. He ended up with two strikeouts and just one hit over two frames.

The Mudcats were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base in the victory. They left the bases loaded in the eighth and left at least one man on in all but three innings. Potomac was held to one hit with runners in scoring position; they were 1-for-7 in those situations and left seven men on.

Carolina took the series two games to one with Thursday's victory. It was their third straight home series victory since being swept by the Red Sox at home in mid-April.

The current home stand continues tomorrow night with Fireworks Friday and Boy Scouts Night presented by Cutter on Friday, May 13, a drawstring bag giveaway presented by A Plus Family Care (first 1,200 kids ages 14 and under) on Saturday, May 14 and Bark in the Park Day presented by Dirty Dogs Spa on Sunday, May 15.

Full, half and mini plan season tickets as well as group ticket packages and individual game tickets are currently available by contacting a front office representative at (919) 269-CATS (2287) or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. First established in 1991, the two-time Southern League Champion Carolina Mudcats are in their 26th consecutive season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. 

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