Bullock Racks Up Career High 12 Ks in 8-2 Victory

KINSTON – Justin Bullock totaled a career high 12 strikeouts and tossed six scoreless innings while leading the Mudcats to an 8-2 victory over the Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium in Kinston on Friday night. Ernesto Martinez hit a solo home run in the third, Joe Gray Jr. went 2-for-4 with a double, both Felix Valerio and Noah Campbell scored two runs and Joey Wiemer drove in three while going 2-for-4.

The Mudcats (7-3) evened the six-game series at two apiece with Friday’s victory. They also moved within one game of the first place Wood Ducks (8-2) after taking their second straight at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.

Bullock (1-1, 2.45) turned in a career start and earned the victory. The Creedmoor, NC native allowed a hit in the second, but went on to retire 10 straight batters immediately after while stifling the Down East batters. In all, Bullock faced just two over the minimum while tossing six scoreless frames and setting a new career high with 12 strikeouts. He also walked one and allowed just one hit while reaching 84 pitches (63 strikes) in what was his best Minor League outing.

Martinez gave Bullock and the Mudcats a lead to work with in the third after starting the frame with his team-best third homer of the season. The home run was a leadoff blast and came off Down East starter Tekoah Roby. Martinez ended up 1-for-3 with his homer, a run scored and an RBI in the game for Carolina. Roby (0-1, 1.69) took the loss despite allowing just the Martinez homer in the third.

The Mudcats were up 1-0 after three before adding one more run in the fourth and three more runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. Gray singled and scored a run in the fourth before driving in a run with a RBI double in the fourth. Valerio also doubled in a run in the fourth before scoring again in the seventh. Wiemer brought across two more runs in the seventh with a two-run single.

Down East relievers Tyree Thompson and Josh Smith combined to allow seven Carolina runs between the fourth and seventh innings. John Matthews worked the final two frames with two strikeouts.

Carolina was already up 8-0 through seven before the Wood Ducks put up a couple of runs against reliever Abner Uribe in the eighth. Uribe, however, did end up finishing the game while earning his first save.

The series continues on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. with right-hander Michele Vassalotti (0-0, 2.25) starting for the Mudcats at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.

HOME RUNS:
Carolina: Martinez, E (3, 3rd inning off Roby, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Gray Jr., CF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Wiemer, RF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 3 RBI
Martinez, E, 1B (Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Valerio, F, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Campbell, SS (Carolina): 1-for-4, 2 R
Harris, 1B (Down East): 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Cabello, LF (Down East): 1-for-4, 1 R

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Bullock (W, 1-1) (Carolina): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO
Roby (L, 0-1) (Down East): 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Matthews (Down East): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:
Mudcats 3rd (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 0) -- Ernesto Martinez hits a home run to right field on a 3-0 pitch. Alex Hall strikes out swinging. Arbert Cipion strikes out swinging. Gabe Holt flies out to Antonio Cabello.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 2, Wood Ducks 0) -- Pitcher Change: Tyree Thompson replaces Tekoah Roby. Felix Valerio grounds out, Keyber Rodriguez to Dustin Harris. Noah Campbell strikes out swinging. Joe Gray Jr. singles to deep shortstop. Zavier Warren reaches on fielding error by Cristian Inoa, Joe Gray Jr. to 2nd. Joey Wiemer singles to left-center field, Joe Gray Jr. scores; Zavier Warren to 2nd. Ernesto Martinez walks, Zavier Warren to 3rd; Joey Wiemer to 2nd. Alex Hall pops out to Luisangel Acuna.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB)

Mudcats 5th (Mudcats 5, Wood Ducks 0) -- Arbert Cipion walks. Gabe Holt grounds out, Keyber Rodriguez to Dustin Harris, Arbert Cipion to 2nd. Felix Valerio doubles to left field, Arbert Cipion scores; Felix Valerio to 3rd. Noah Campbell walks. Pitcher Change: Josh Smith replaces Tyree Thompson. Joe Gray Jr. doubles to center field, Felix Valerio scores; Noah Campbell to 3rd. Wild pitch by Josh Smith, Noah Campbell scores; Joe Gray Jr. to 3rd. Zavier Warren strikes out swinging. Joey Wiemer grounds out, Luisangel Acuna to Dustin Harris.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 8, Wood Ducks 0) -- Gabe Holt grounds out, Josh Smith to Dustin Harris. Felix Valerio hit by pitch. Noah Campbell singles through the hole at second base, Felix Valerio to 3rd. Joe Gray Jr. strikes out swinging. Zavier Warren reaches on throwing error by Josh Smith, Felix Valerio scores; Noah Campbell to 2nd. Wild pitch by Josh Smith, Noah Campbell to 3rd; Zavier Warren to 2nd. Joey Wiemer singles to left-center field, Noah Campbell scores; Zavier Warren scores. Ernesto Martinez strikes out swinging.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Wood Ducks 8th (Mudcats 8, Wood Ducks 2) -- Antonio Cabello singles to deep shortstop. Randy Florentino strikes out swinging. Jose Rodriguez strikes out swinging. Evan Carter walks. Wild pitch by Abner Uribe, Antonio Cabello to 3rd; Evan Carter to 2nd. Luisangel Acuna walks. Dustin Harris singles through the hole at second base, Antonio Cabello scores; Evan Carter scores; Luisangel Acuna out at 3rd on the throw, Joey Wiemer to Felix Valerio.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)