First Place Mudcats End Skid with 4-1 Road Win

Carolina 4 @ Columbia 1

June 17, 2022 | Venue : Segra Park | First pitch : 9:04 PM | Att : 3,034 | T : 1:54 (1:59 delay)

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 x x 4 11 1

COL: 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 x x 1 4 0

WP: Brannon Jordan (3 - 1) LP: Ben Wereski (0 - 3)

COLUMBIA – Eduardo Garcia hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh, Jeferson Quero went 3-for-4 with a RBI and Hendry Mendez went 2-for-4 with a RBI as the Carolina Mudcats snapped a five-game losing streak with a rain-shortened 4-1 victory versus the Columbia Fireflies on Friday night at Segra Park in Columbia, SC. The game was shortened to seven innings after starting two hours after its originally scheduled start time due to rain at Segra Park.

A go-ahead, 2-run home run from Eduardo Garcia (6) and a RBI single from Jeferson Quero has the Mudcats up 4-1 in the 7th in Columbia. pic.twitter.com/3ofQSyB2gC

— Carolina Mudcats (@CarolinaMudcats) June 18, 2022

The rain delay shortened game was scoreless through the fifth before the Mudcats (31-29) took a 1-0 lead in the sixth on a RBI single from Mendez. The Fireflies (18-42), however, tied it at 1-1 with a run and two hits in the sixth off reliever Brannon Jordan. Garcia then broke the 1-1 tie with his two-run home run in the seventh and Quero then used his third hit of the night to bring in Jackson Chourio from second to lift the Mudcats to the 4-1 lead.

Jordan (3-1) earned the win, but also suffered his second blown save while allowing the tying run in the sixth. He followed that frame with a scoreless seventh while earning third win of the season. Carlos Rodriguez started for Carolina and turned in another solid outing as he pitched through five scoreless innings with two hits, two walks and one strikeout.

The Mudcats were originally held without a run over the first four innings by stater Frank Mozzicato. They then scored four runs over the final two frames against reliever Ben Wereski while taking the third game of the series 4-1. Wereski (0-3) also allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out two over two and 2/3 innings in the loss.

The victory snapped a season high five-game losing streak for the Mudcats. It also moved them into sole possession of first-place in the Carolina League North first half standings. The Mudcats now own a 0.5 game lead over Fredericks, Lynchburg and Salem with just six games remaining on the first half schedule.

The Mudcats wore commemorative game jerseys while playing as the Chattanooga Choo-Choos for Columbia's Negro Leagues Weekend celebration.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Garcia, E (6, 7th inning off Wereski, 1 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Rivera, J, 3B (Columbia): 1-for-2, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Vazquez, SS (Columbia): 1-for-2, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Dooney, DH (Columbia): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

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

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

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

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Rodriguez (Carolina): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

Jordan (W, 3-1)(BS, 2) (Carolina): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

Mozzicato (Columbia): 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

Capellan (Columbia): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 1, Fireflies 0) -- Jeferson Quero singles to left field. Jesus Chirinos pops out to Omar Florentino. Jean Carmona walks, Jeferson Quero to 2nd. Hendry Mendez singles to left-center field, Jeferson Quero scores; Jean Carmona to 2nd. Zack Raabe strikes out swinging. Jose Sibrian lines out to Daniel Vazquez.

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

Fireflies 6th (Mudcats 1, Fireflies 1) -- Pitcher Change: Brannon Jordan replaces Carlos Rodriguez. Joshua Rivera singles to left-center field. Jean Ramirez out on a sacrifice bunt, Jean Carmona to Jesus Chirinos, Joshua Rivera to 2nd. Wild pitch by Brannon Jordan, Joshua Rivera to 3rd. Daniel Vazquez singles to center field, Joshua Rivera scores. River Town walks, Daniel Vazquez to 2nd. Wild pitch by Brannon Jordan, Daniel Vazquez to 3rd; River Town to 2nd. Guillermo Quintana pops out to Jesus Chirinos. Dayton Dooney grounds out, Zack Raabe to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 4, Fireflies 1) -- Oswal Leones singles to center field. Eduardo Garcia hits a home run to left field on a 0-0 pitch, Oswal Leones scores. Jackson Chourio doubles through the hole at shortstop. Jeferson Quero singles to left field, Jackson Chourio scores. Jesus Chirinos grounds into a force out, Joshua Rivera to Omar Florentino, Jeferson Quero out at 2nd. Jean Carmona flies out to River Town. Hendry Mendez singles through the hole at second base, Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Delvin Capellan replaces Ben Wereski. Zack Raabe walks, Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Hendry Mendez to 2nd. Jose Sibrian strikes out on foul tip.

(3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)