Hummel Hits Go-Ahead Blast in Eighth in 5-3 Home Win
ZEBULON, N.C. - Cooper Hummel hit a two-run home run in the eighth while breaking a 3-3 tie, Weston Wilson hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the first and Luke Barker picked up his league leading 14th save of the season as the Mudcats defeated the Dash 5-3 on Wednesday night at Five County Stadium.
Hummel's two-run blast in the eighth came off Winston-Salem (17-9, 58-38) reliever Drew Hasler and proved to be the game winner as the Mudcats (14-11, 48-47) rallied late to take game one of a three game home series against the Dash.
The eventual game winning blow was Hummel's sixth homer of the season and his third hit overall in the game as he went 3-for-4 overall. He also doubled and scored a run in the second and singled in the fourth before hitting his game deciding moon blast to right in the eighth.
Wilson originally gave the Mudcats their first lead as his two-run home run in the first lifted Carolina to a 2-1 advantage early in the game. The home run was Wilson's team leading 12th of the season and came off Dash starter John Parke. Wilson went 1-for-3 with two RBI in the game for the Mudcats.
Parke, before allowing Wilson's homer in the first, originally had a 1-0 lead to work with as Winston-Salem brought across an early run in the first on a fielding error at third from Wilson. The error was only Wilson's third error overall for the season and his second over 12 games played at third.
Carolina's 2-1 lead quickly went to 3-1 in the second after Hummel singled to start the frame, before later scoring on a two-out RBI single to center from Devin Hairston. The run scoring hit was Hairston's first of two in the game as he went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
Starter Braden Webb held the 3-1 Carolina lead into the fifth, but lost it when the Dash rallied for two in the fifth to tie the game. Yermin Mercedes and Yeyson Yrizarri started the fifth with back-to-back hits before coming in on a wild pitch and RBI double from Laz Rivera respectively.
Webb worked through six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in his no decision. He also walked one and struck out six.
Parke also pitched six full innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. He also walked one and struck out six while finishing without a decision. Hasler (2-2, 4.69) struck out one, allowed three hits and gave up two runs in the loss.
Brown (4-3, 4.14) earned the win for Carolina after pitching a scoreless seventh and eighth in place of Webb. He finished his victorious outing with one hit and one strikeout as well.
Barker later worked the ninth and pitched around a walk while striking out two while earning his Carolina League leading 14th save of the season. Barker has also earned a league high eight saves in the second half.
With the victory, the Mudcats pulled within 2.5 games of the first place Dash in the second half standings. They also remained 2.0 games back of Buies Creek for second place in the second half race.
The three game series will continue on Thursday night at Five County Stadium at 7:00 p.m. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also be available via live streaming video at MiLB.tv. Tickets are available by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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