Perez Homers in 5-1 Loss in Fayetteville

Carolina 1 @ Fayetteville 5

July 28, 2022 | Venue : SEGRA Stadium | First pitch : 7:08 PM | Att : 3,129 | T : 2:17

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 3

FAY: 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 x 5 6 0

WP: Edinson Batista (6 - 3) LP: Stiven Cruz (3 - 5) SV: Alex Santos II (1)

FAYETTEVILLE – Hedbert Perez hit his 12th home run of the season and Stiven Cruz matched a career-high with nine strikeouts, but Cruz also gave up two, two-run home runs to Joey Loperfido as the Fayetteville Woodpeckers defeated the Carolina Mudcats 5-1 on Thursday night at SEGRA Stadium. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Mudcats (13-14, 47-46) and cut Carolina’s lead in the current series to 2-1 in Fayetteville (8-18, 39-52).

Loperfido homered in the first and fifth innings while single-handedly lifting the Woodpeckers to a 4-0 lead against Cruz (3-5) and the Mudcats. Loperfido’s home runs were his eighth and ninth of the season. The home runs were also the 11th and 12th allowed by Cruz over his 13 starts this season.

Cruz took the loss while pitching through five full innings with nine strikeouts, three walks and four runs allowed on five hits. His nine strikeouts were a new season-high and matched a career-high as well.

Carolina’s lone run of the game came in the seventh when Perez connected on his 12th home run of the season. It came off reliever Alex Santos and was his only hit allowed. Santos (1) earned the save while totaling a hit, a run and eight strikeouts over four innings. Starter Edinson Batista got the win after holding the Mudcats scoreless over five innings pitched. Batista (6-3) also struck out eight against just two walks.

Relievers Jeison Pena, Karlos Morales and Brannon Jordan allowed followed Cruz with each pitcher going one inning a piece. Pena allowed a hit, but faced just three while inducing a double play in the sixth. Morales allowed an unearned run in the seventh, but also struck out one and walked one. Jordan then struck out two in the eighth while appearing in a game for the first time since July 3.

The series continues Friday night with RHP Miguel Segura starting for the Mudcats.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Perez (12, 6th inning off Santos, 0 on, 2 out)

Fayetteville: Loperfido, J 2 (9, 1st inning off Cruz, 2 on, 1 out, 5th inning off Cruz, 1 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Loperfido, J, CF (Fayetteville): 2-for-3, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI

Orr, 2B-LF (Fayetteville): 1-for-3, 0 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

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

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

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Pena, Je (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

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

Batista (W, 6-3) (Fayetteville): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO

Santos (S, 1) (Fayetteville): 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

SCORING:
Woodpeckers 1st (Woodpeckers 2, Mudcats 0) -- Jaxon Hallmark hit by pitch. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Yeuris Ramirez replaces Jaxon Hallmark. Logan Cerny strikes out swinging, Logan Cerny to 2nd. Joey Loperfido hits a home run to right field on a 0-1 pitch, Yeuris Ramirez scores. Justin Williams strikes out swinging. Victor Mascai flies out to Oswal Leones.

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

Woodpeckers 5th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 0) -- Logan Cerny walks. Joey Loperfido hits a home run to right-center field on a 1-0 pitch, Logan Cerny scores. Justin Williams flies out to Eduarqui Fernandez. Victor Mascai strikes out swinging. Tyler Whitaker strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 6th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 1) -- Pitcher Change: Alex Santos II replaces Edinson Batista. Eduarqui Fernandez struck out looking. Oswal Leones strikes out swinging. Hedbert Perez hits a home run on a 0-1 pitch. Eduardo Garcia grounds out, Alex Santos II to Victor Mascai.

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

Woodpeckers 7th (Woodpeckers 5, Mudcats 1) -- Pitcher Change: Karlos Morales replaces Jeison Pena. Yeuris Ramirez struck out looking. Logan Cerny reaches on fielding error by Hedbert Perez, Logan Cerny to 2nd. Joey Loperfido reaches on throwing error by Zack Raabe, Logan Cerny to 3rd. Justin Williams walks, Joey Loperfido to 2nd. Victor Mascai out on a sacrifice fly to Hedbert Perez, Logan Cerny scores; Joey Loperfido to 3rd. Tyler Whitaker grounds out, Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos.

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