Perez & Perez Power Mudcats to Comeback Victory

Fayetteville Woodpeckers 6 @ Carolina Mudcats 7
June 06, 2023 | Venue: Five County Stadium | First pitch: 7:01 PM | T: 2:57 | Att: 1,197 | Box Score

FAY: 0 0 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 6 11 1
CAR: 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 1 7 10 2

WP: Shane Smith (4 - 3) LP: Bryan Perez (0 - 1)
Post-Game Interview: Manager Victor Estevez

ZEBULON, N.C. – Hedbert Perez hit a two-run home run and Alexander Perez had a game-tying double in the ninth as the Carolina Mudcats scored three runs to force extras before eventually winning on a walk-off wild pitch in the tenth to defeat the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 7-6 in Tuesday’s series opener at Five County Stadium. The comeback victory kept the first-place Mudcats ahead of the Down East Wood Ducks by a 0.5 game in the first half standings.

The Mudcats (30-19) were down 6-3 going into the last of the ninth before Jadher Areinamo singled and scored on a Hedbert Perez’s two-run home run to right. Fayetteville (19-32) reliever Manuel Urias gave up the homer but went on to retire two straight before giving up a single to leadoff man Gregory Barrios. Alexander Perez, batting for Luis Lara who was ejected in the eighth, then followed with a game-tying double up the left field line.

The game was locked at 6-6 after nine and reliever Shane Smith kept it that way through the top of the tenth after working through his third straight scoreless frame. Smith (W, 4-3) managed to leave the go-ahead run on in the tenth after getting a flyout and a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Carolina went on to break the 6-6 tie in the last of the tenth when Kay-Lan Nicasia scored from third on a wild pitch from reliever Bryan Perez. Nicasia started the extra frame at second, but moved to third on a one-out infield single from Areinamo. The Woodpeckers went on to intentionally walk Hedbert Perez and got Jheremy Vargas to pop out before Perez lost his game-ended wild pitch.

The Mudcats scored their first and last runs on wild pitches as Gregory Barrios walked and scored a run in the fourth for Carolina’s first run. Fayetteville, after getting a two-run home run from Zach Cole in the third and a RBI single from Juan Encarnacion in the fourth, led 3-0 before Barrios scored on a Jose Fleury wild pitch in the fourth.

The Mudcats scored again on a groundout from Hedbert Perez in the fifth to cut the deficit to 3-2, but a home run from John Garcia extended the Fayetteville lead to 4-2 in the sixth.

Carolina answered by cutting the lead to 4-3 after Lara walked, moved from first to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch in the sixth. Lara also tried to take two bases on a wild pitch in the eighth, but was caught at home to end the inning. He was ejected moments later for slamming his helmet in frustration.

Fayetteville’s 4-3 lead quickly grew to 6-3 in the seventh when Jackson Loftin connected on a two-run home run off reliever Nick Merkel. The home run was Fayetteville’s third of the game, and second off Merkel. Cole also homered early in the game off starter Will Rudy.

Rudy pitched through the fifth for the fifth straight start, but allowed three runs on five hits. Merkel also allowed three runs and pitched through two innings with four hits and a walk. Smith earned the win with three scoreless innings across the eighth, ninth and tenth. Smith struck out two and scattered three hits in the victory.

HOME RUNS:
Fayetteville: HR: Cole (8, 3rd inning off Rudy, 1 on, 1 out); Garcia, J (4, 6th inning off Merkel, 0 on, 1 out); Loftin (2, 7th inning off Merkel, 1 on, 0 out).
Carolina: HR: Perez, H (2, 9th inning off Urias, 1 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Loftin, SS (Fayetteville): 3-for-5, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Garcia, J, C (Fayetteville): 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Cole , CF (Fayetteville): 1-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Perez, H, DH (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Areinamo, 3B (Carolina): 2-for-5, 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Perez, A, LF (Carolina): 1-for-1, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Fleury (Fayetteville): 4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO
Taylor, A (H, 1) (Fayetteville): 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
Rudy (Carolina): 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
Smith (W, 4-3) (Carolina): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:
Woodpeckers 3rd (Woodpeckers 2, Mudcats 0) -- Garrett McGowan struck out looking. Frank Perez singles up the middle. Zachary Cole hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch, Frank Perez scores. Jackson Loftin pops out to Jheremy Vargas. Ricardo Balogh strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Woodpeckers 4th (Woodpeckers 3, Mudcats 0) -- Narbe Cruz singles to center field. John Garcia hit by pitch, Narbe Cruz to 2nd. Luis Encarnacion singles to left-center field, Narbe Cruz scores; John Garcia to 2nd. Sandro Gaston pops out to Luke Adams on the infield fly rule. Garrett McGowan strikes out swinging and John Garcia caught stealing 3rd, Jose Sibrian to Jadher Areinamo to Jose Sibrian.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 4th (Woodpeckers 3, Mudcats 1) -- Gregory Barrios walks. Luis Lara walks, Gregory Barrios to 2nd. Luis Lara caught stealing 2nd base, John Garcia to Narbe Cruz, Gregory Barrios to 3rd. Wild pitch by Jose Fleury, Gregory Barrios scores. Luke Adams walks. Kay-Lan Nicasia strikes out swinging and Luke Adams caught stealing 2nd, John Garcia to Jackson Loftin to John Garcia.
(1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 5th (Woodpeckers 3, Mudcats 2) -- Jace Avina singles up the middle, Jace Avina advances to 2nd on fielding error by Zachary Cole . Jadher Areinamo flies out to Zachary Cole , Jace Avina to 3rd. Hedbert Perez grounds out, Narbe Cruz to Sandro Gaston, Jace Avina scores. Jheremy Vargas singles to deep shortstop. Pitcher Change: Austin Temple replaces Jose Fleury. Jose Sibrian pops out to Narbe Cruz.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)

Woodpeckers 6th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Nick Merkel replaces Will Rudy. Narbe Cruz strikes out swinging. John Garcia hits a home run to right field on a 0-2 pitch. Luis Encarnacion singles up the middle. Sandro Gaston strikes out swinging. Garrett McGowan singles through the hole at shortstop, Luis Encarnacion to 2nd. Frank Perez lines out to Jadher Areinamo
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Woodpeckers 4, Mudcats 3) -- Pitcher Change: Andrew Taylor replaces Austin Temple. Gregory Barrios struck out looking. Luis Lara walks. Luke Adams strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by Andrew Taylor, Luis Lara to 3rd. Wild pitch by Andrew Taylor, Luis Lara scores. Kay-Lan Nicasia walks. Jace Avina grounds out, Narbe Cruz to Sandro Gaston.
(1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Woodpeckers 7th (Woodpeckers 6, Mudcats 3) -- Zachary Cole walks. Jackson Loftin hits a home run to left-center field on a 0-0 pitch, Zachary Cole scores. Ricardo Balogh grounds out, Gregory Barrios to Luke Adams. Narbe Cruz flies out to Jace Avina. John Garcia pops out to Gregory Barrios.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 9th (Woodpeckers 6, Mudcats 6) -- Pitcher Change: Manuel Urias replaces Andrew Taylor. Jadher Areinamo singles to center field. Hedbert Perez hits a home run to right field on a 0-0 pitch, Jadher Areinamo scores. Jheremy Vargas grounds out, Narbe Cruz to Sandro Gaston. Jose Sibrian struck out looking. Gregory Barrios singles up the middle. Gregory Barrios advances to 2nd on a balk. Alexander Perez hits a ground rule double to left field, Gregory Barrios scores. Luke Adams walks. Pitcher Change: Bryan Perez replaces Manuel Urias. Kay-Lan Nicasia struck out looking.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 10th (Mudcats 7, Woodpeckers 6) -- Leosdany Molina remains in the game as the second baseman. Defensive switch from 2nd to 3rd for Narbe Cruz. Kay-Lan Nicasia starts inning at 2nd base. Jace Avina strikes out swinging. Jadher Areinamo singles to deep second base, Kay-Lan Nicasia to 3rd. Bryan Perez intentionally walks Hedbert Perez, Jadher Areinamo to 2nd. Jheremy Vargas pops out to Leosdany Molina.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)