Cruz Cruises as Mudcats Win Second Straight 5-2

Fayetteville 2 @ Carolina 5

July 01, 2022 | Venue : Five County Stadium | First pitch : 7:05 PM | Att : 4,888 | T : 2:17

FAY: 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 4 1

CAR: 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 5 6 0

WP: Stiven Cruz (3 - 2) LP: Deylen Miley (2 - 3) SV: Michele Vassalotti (5)

ZEBULON – Stiven Cruz started and struck out five over six scoreless innings, and both Jheremy Vargas and Jackson Chourio had run-scoring doubles during a five-run second inning as the Carolina Mudcats won their second straight game 5-2 versus the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

Cruz (3-2) pitched through a career-high six innings while earning the victory the for the Mudcats (3-4, 37-36). He also scattered three hits and did not walk a batter while reaching 66 pitches (47 strikes) in his quality outing.

As Cruz cruised, the Carolina offense would give him plenty of early run support with five runs coming across in the second. Of those five, two scored on a throwing error by catcher Freddy Guilamo, two scored on the RBI doubles from Vargas and Chourio, and one scored on a ground out.

Deylin Miley started for the Woodpeckers (2-5, 33-39) and took the loss after allowing all five Carolina runs in the second. Of those five, only two were earned.

The Woodpeckers were down 5-0 after the second, and still trailed by five before getting a two-run home run from Yeuris Ramirez in the sixth. That home run came against reliever Junior Montero and would be his only hit allowed over two innings pitched. Michele Vassalotti (S, 5) pitched the ninth and earned the save while facing five batters and striking out one.

Carolina took a 3-1 lead in the six-game series with the Friday night victory. The series continues Saturday night with the fifth of the six-game set, and the second straight night of Carolina’s Mudcats for America post-game fireworks series of games at Five County Stadium.

HOME RUNS:

Fayetteville: Ramirez, Y (6, 7th inning off Montero, 1 on, 2 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

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

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

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

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

Ramirez, Y, 3B (Fayetteville): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Loperfido, J, 1B-2B (Fayetteville): 1-for-3, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Cruz (W, 3-2) (Carolina): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO

Montero (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

Vassalotti (S, 5) (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Batista (Fayetteville): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

Reina (Fayetteville): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 5, Woodpeckers 0) -- Jose Sibrian singles to left field. Zack Raabe pops out to Joey Loperfido in foul territory. Wild pitch by Deylen Miley, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Jean Carmona walks. Jheremy Vargas doubles through the hole at shortstop, Jose Sibrian scores; Jean Carmona to 3rd. Jesus Garcia strikes out swinging, Jean Carmona scores; Jheremy Vargas scores; Jesus Garcia advances to 2nd on throwing error by Freddy Guilamo. Luis Silva singles to right-center field, Jesus Garcia to 3rd. Hendry Mendez grounds out, Deylen Miley to Joey Loperfido, Jesus Garcia scores; Luis Silva to 2nd. Wild pitch by Deylen Miley, Luis Silva to 3rd. Jackson Chourio doubles to right-center field, Luis Silva scores. Hedbert Perez flies out to Cody Orr.

(5 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Woodpeckers 7th (Mudcats 5, Woodpeckers 2) -- Pitcher Change: Junior Montero replaces Stiven Cruz. Justin Williams grounds out, Jheremy Vargas to Luis Silva. Rainier Rivas grounds out to Luis Silva. Tyler Whitaker hit by pitch. Yeuris Ramirez hits a home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch, Tyler Whitaker scores. Freddy Guilamo grounds out, Jean Carmona to Luis Silva.

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