Binelas, Perez & Garcia Power Mudcats to 14-10 Win

Down East 10 @ Carolina 14

September 11, 2021 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 5:03 PM | Att : 2,516 | T : 3:23

DE: 0 1 0 2 0 4 1 0 2 10 13 0

CAR: 1 0 2 2 6 0 1 2 x 14 12 0

WP: Zach Mort (4 - 1) LP: Nick Krauth (5 - 8)

ZEBULON – Alex Binelas went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI, Hedbert Perez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and Eduardo Garcia went 2-for-2 with three runs and two doubles as the Carolina Mudcats outlasted the Down East Wood Ducks 14-10 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.

The victory pulled the Mudcats (65-48) within 2.0 games of the Wood Ducks (67-46) in the Central Division standings. It also gave Carolina it’s second win of the six-game series, giving them a chance to finish with a split in Sunday’s home schedule finale at Five County Stadium.

Binelas got the Mudcats going early with a solo home run in the first to put Carolina up 1-0 on Down East’s starter Nick Krauth. The Wood Ducks came back with a run off Carolina starter Zach Mort to tie the game in the second, but Ethan Murray, Tyler Black and Binelas combined for three straight hits and two runs in the third to move the Mudcats ahead 3-1. Down East went on to tie it again at 3-3 after getting a two-run triple from Keyber Rodriguez in the fourth.

With the game tied at 3-3, the Mudcats would go on a scoring binge with two runs in the fourth to break the tie and then six runs in the fifth while jumping out to an 11-3 lead. The two-run fourth included a single by Perez and a RBI hit from Zack Raabe. The fifth, meanwhile, featured three Carolina walks (including one to force in a run) and Perez’s three-run homer.

The Wood Ducks went on to cut the Carolina lead to 11-7 with four runs in the sixth off reliever Robbie Baker, but Raabe brought in another run with a sac fly in the seventh and Binelas hit a two-run home run in the eighth to lift Carolina to a 14-8 lead. Down East later tacked on two late runs off Justin Miller, but the Mudcats went on to hold on while picking up the victory in their penultimate home game of the 2021 season.

Mort (4-1, 4.88) earned the win after working into the sixth with four runs allowed on five hits. He also walked three and struck out seven while earning a victory for the fourth time in five outings since joining the Mudcats. He left the game after reaching his pitch count and with one out in the sixth. Baker followed and allowed an inherited runner to score before getting through the rest of the sixth. He later allowed four runs in the sixth and pitched through and inning and 2/3 overall with five hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts. Miller then came out for the eighth and went on to retire the side in order in his first inning before giving up two runs and three hits in the ninth.

Krauth (5-8, 4.15) took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits over four innings pitched. Mason Cole followed Krauth, but recorded just one out while facing six and giving up five runs and two hits in the fifth. Theo McDowell and Connor Sechler worked the remainder of the game with both allowing two runs out of the Down East bullpen.

HOME RUNS:

Down East HR: Osuna, A (6, 9th inning off Miller, J, 0 on, 0 out).

Carolina HR: Binelas 2 (6, 1st inning off Krauth, 0 on, 2 out, 8th inning off Sechler, 1 on, 0 out); Perez (1, 5th inning off Cole, 2 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Binelas, 1B (Carolina): 4-for-5, 3 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI

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

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

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

Inoa, 1B (Down East): 3-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI

Freeman, 3B (Down East): 2-for-5, 2 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Osuna, A, LF (Down East): 2-for-2, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Valentin, C (Down East): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI

Aponte, RF (Down East): 2-for-4, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Mort (W, 4-1) (Carolina): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO

Baker (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Miller, J (Carolina): 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

McDowell, T (Down East): 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO

Sechler (Down East): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

*SCORING: *

Mudcats 1st (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 0) -- Ethan Murray grounds out, Keyber Rodriguez to Cristian Inoa. Tyler Black grounds out, Luisangel Acuna to Cristian Inoa. Alex Binelas hits a home run to right-center field on a 0-1 pitch. Micah Bello grounds out, Keyber Rodriguez to Cristian Inoa.

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

Wood Ducks 2nd (Wood Ducks 1, Mudcats 1) -- Cristian Inoa struck out looking. Cody Freeman triples to right field. Keyber Rodriguez out on a sacrifice fly to Alex Binelas in foul territory, Cody Freeman scores. Xavier Valentin pops out to Eduardo Garcia.

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

Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 3, Wood Ducks 1) -- Zack Raabe flies out to Angel Aponte. Ethan Murray singles to deep shortstop. Ethan Murray steals 2nd base. Tyler Black doubles to right field, Ethan Murray scores. Alex Binelas singles to right-center field, Tyler Black scores. Micah Bello strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by Nick Krauth, Alex Binelas to 3rd. Darrien Miller flies out to Angel Aponte.

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

Wood Ducks 4th (Wood Ducks 3, Mudcats 3) -- Aaron Zavala struck out looking. Luisangel Acuna flies out to Hedbert Perez. Cristian Inoa singles to center field. Cody Freeman singles to deep shortstop, Cristian Inoa to 2nd. Keyber Rodriguez triples down the right-field line, Cristian Inoa scores; Cody Freeman scores. Xavier Valentin strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 5, Wood Ducks 3) -- Noah Campbell flies out to Alejandro Osuna. Eduardo Garcia hit by pitch. Hedbert Perez singles to right field, Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Zack Raabe singles to right-center field, Eduardo Garcia scores; Hedbert Perez to 3rd. Ethan Murray walks, Zack Raabe to 2nd. Passed ball by Xavier Valentin, Hedbert Perez scores; Zack Raabe to 3rd; Ethan Murray to 2nd. Tyler Black flies into double play, Alejandro Osuna to Cody Freeman, Ethan Murray out at 3rd.

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

Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 11, Wood Ducks 3) -- Pitcher Change: Mason Cole replaces Nick Krauth. Alex Binelas singles to right field. Micah Bello walks, Alex Binelas to 2nd. Darrien Miller pops out to Luisangel Acuna. Wild pitch by Mason Cole, Alex Binelas to 3rd; Micah Bello to 2nd. Noah Campbell walks. Eduardo Garcia walks, Alex Binelas scores; Micah Bello to 3rd; Noah Campbell to 2nd. Wild pitch by Mason Cole, Micah Bello scores; Noah Campbell to 3rd; Eduardo Garcia to 2nd. Hedbert Perez hits a home run to right field on a 3-1 pitch, Noah Campbell scores; Eduardo Garcia scores. Pitcher Change: Theo McDowell replaces Mason Cole. Zack Raabe strikes out swinging, Zack Raabe to 1st;wild pitch by Theo McDowell. Wild pitch by Theo McDowell, Zack Raabe to 2nd. Ethan Murray struck out looking. Wild pitch by Theo McDowell, Zack Raabe to 3rd. Tyler Black walks, Zack Raabe scores;wild pitch by Theo McDowell. Wild pitch by Theo McDowell, Tyler Black to 2nd. Alex Binelas lines out to Daniel Mateo.

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

Wood Ducks 6th (Mudcats 11, Wood Ducks 7) -- Aaron Zavala strikes out swinging. Luisangel Acuna walks. Pitcher Change: Robbie Baker replaces Zach Mort. Cristian Inoa singles to center field, Luisangel Acuna to 2nd. Cody Freeman strikes out swinging. Keyber Rodriguez walks, Luisangel Acuna to 3rd; Cristian Inoa to 2nd. Xavier Valentin doubles to right-center field, Luisangel Acuna scores; Cristian Inoa scores; Keyber Rodriguez scores. Angel Aponte singles to left-center field, Xavier Valentin scores. Alejandro Osuna singles to left-center field, Angel Aponte to 3rd. Daniel Mateo strikes out swinging.

(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Wood Ducks 7th (Mudcats 11, Wood Ducks 8) -- Aaron Zavala doubles to center field. Luisangel Acuna grounds out, Tyler Black to Alex Binelas, Aaron Zavala to 3rd. Cristian Inoa out on a sacrifice fly to Micah Bello, Aaron Zavala scores. Cody Freeman lines out to Micah Bello.

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

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 12, Wood Ducks 8) -- Eduardo Garcia doubles through the hole at shortstop. Wild pitch by Theo McDowell, Eduardo Garcia to 3rd. Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging. Pitcher Change: Connor Sechler replaces Theo McDowell. Zack Raabe out on a sacrifice fly to Daniel Mateo, Eduardo Garcia scores. Ethan Murray strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 14, Wood Ducks 8) -- Defensive Substitution: Brady Smith replaces catcher Xavier Valentin, batting 7th, playing catcher. Tyler Black singles to deep second base. Alex Binelas hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch, Tyler Black scores. Micah Bello struck out looking. Darrien Miller pops out to Keyber Rodriguez. Noah Campbell strikes out on foul tip.

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

Wood Ducks 9th (Mudcats 14, Wood Ducks 10) -- Alejandro Osuna hits a home run to left-center field on a 3-1 pitch. Daniel Mateo singles to deep second base. Aaron Zavala lines into a force out, Tyler Black to Eduardo Garcia, Daniel Mateo out at 2nd. Aaron Zavala advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Luisangel Acuna reaches on a fielder's choice out, Justin Miller to Ethan Murray to Eduardo Garcia, Aaron Zavala out at 3rd. Luisangel Acuna advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Cristian Inoa singles to left-center field, Luisangel Acuna scores. Cristian Inoa advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Cody Freeman flies out to Hedbert Perez.

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