Mudcats Win Second Half Title With 5-1 Victory

The Mudcats clinched their first post-season berth since 2008 with Thursday’s victory in Salem

September 7, 2023

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 9 0
SAL: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 1
WP: Yujanyer Herrera (5 - 4) LP: Luis Talavera (0 - 2)

Post-Game Interview: Manager Victor Estevez

SALEM, Va. – The Carolina Mudcats clinched the Carolina League North Second Half Title with a 5-1 victory versus the Salem Red Sox on Thursday night at Carillion Clinic Field in Salem, Va. Yorman Galindez started and totaled a career-high nine strikeouts over five scoreless innings and Jesus Chirinos went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs while leading the Mudcats to their first playoff appearance since 2008.

The victory clinched Carolina’s first post-season berth since 2008 when they lost to the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League Championship Series. The Mudcats (38-25, 71-55) transitioned to the Carolina League in 2012, making this upcoming trip the team’s first Carolina League playoff appearance in franchise history. The Mudcats last won a league title in 2003 when they won the Southern League Championship. They additionally won the 1995 Southern League title.

The Carolina League division series will begin with the Mudcats hosting the Down East Wood Ducks in a best of three series on Tuesday, September 12 6:30 p.m. in Zebulon at Five County Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at carolinamudcats.com/playoffs.

Thursday’s post-season clinching game was scoreless through the sixth, but that all changed when Chirinos sparked a three-run rally in the seventh that would eventually lead the Mudcats to the playoff clinching victory.

Chirinos started that late rally with a double off the centerfield wall before scoring moments later on a Jose Sibrian RBI single. Juan Baez followed with a one-out RBI single and Kay-Lan Nicasia finished the rally with a sac fly to right.

In all, the Mudcats scored three runs on three hits off reliever Luis Talavera in the seventh while taking a 3-0 lead late in the game. Talavera (L, 0-2) took the loss despite originally working a scoreless sixth before allowing the three Carolina runs in the seventh.

The Red Sox (25-38, 55-71) answered Carolina’s late rally with a run in the home half of the seventh, but the Mudcats came right back with two more in the eighth with a bases loaded RBI walk from Jace Avina and a Baez sac fly. Those final two runs lifted Carolina to a 5-1 lead and were allowed in by reliever Railin Perez.

Galindez ended up without a decision, but was brilliant in his start as he took a no-hitter through the fourth and finished with just one hit over five scoreless innings. He walked a couple of batters, but set a career-high with nine strikeouts and faced just 18 batters in his outing.

Carolina reliever Yujanyer Herrera allowed the lone Salem run in the game in the seventh, but ended up with the victory while working through two innings with one run allowed on three hits. Chase Costello then pitched a scoreless eighth and Bayden Root finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

Starter Matt Duffy and reliever Garrett Ramsey combined to pitch the first five innings for the Red Sox and managed to hold Carolina scoreless while allowing just two hits. Duffy struck out three over two perfect frames. Ramsey followed with two hits allowed and two strikeouts over three scoreless.

Carolina took a two games to one lead in their six-game series in Salem with the 5-1, playoff clinching victory. The series will continue on Friday night with RHP Will Rudy scheduled to start for the Mudcats.

STOLEN BASES:
Carolina: Nicasia (25, 2nd base off Ramsey/Lira); Areinamo (16, 2nd base off Talavera/Lira); O'Rae (15, 2nd base off Perez, R/Lira); Barrios (30, 2nd base off Perez, R/Lira).
Salem: Mejicano (6, 2nd base off Galindez/Sibrian).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Chirinos, 1B (Carolina): 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B
Sibrian, C (Carolina): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI
Baez, J, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Mejicano, 1B (Salem): 2-for-3, 1 BB

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Galindez (Carolina): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO
Herrera (W, 5-4) (Carolina): 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Costello (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Root (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Duffy (Salem): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Ramsey (Salem): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:
Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 3, Red Sox 0) -- Jesus Chirinos doubles to center field. Jose Sibrian singles up the middle, Jesus Chirinos scores. Jace Avina walks, Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Juan Baez singles through the hole at second base, Jose Sibrian scores; Jace Avina to 2nd. Wild pitch by Luis Talavera, Jace Avina to 3rd; Juan Baez to 2nd. Luis Castillo grounds out, Marvin Alcantara to Yorberto Mejicano. Kay-Lan Nicasia out on a sacrifice fly to Albertson Asigen, Jace Avina scores; Juan Baez to 3rd. Gregory Barrios grounds out, Johnfrank Salazar to Yorberto Mejicano. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Red Sox 7th (Mudcats 3, Red Sox 1) -- Enderso Lira lines out to Jadher Areinamo. Marvin Alcantara singles through the hole at second base. Natanael Yuten struck out looking. Yorberto Mejicano singles to left field, Marvin Alcantara to 2nd. Albert Feliz singles up the middle, Marvin Alcantara scores; Yorberto Mejicano to 2nd. Stanley Tucker flies out to Kay-Lan Nicasia. (1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 5, Red Sox 1) -- Pitcher Change: Railin Perez replaces Luis Talavera. Dylan O'Rae singles to deep shortstop. Jadher Areinamo lines out to Albertson Asigen. Dylan O'Rae steals 2nd base. Jesus Chirinos singles to right-center field, Dylan O'Rae to 3rd. Jose Sibrian hit by pitch, Jesus Chirinos to 2nd. Jace Avina walks, Dylan O'Rae scores; Jesus Chirinos to 3rd; Jose Sibrian to 2nd. Juan Baez out on a sacrifice fly to Albertson Asigen, Jesus Chirinos scores; Jose Sibrian to 3rd. Luis Castillo struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)