Quero Homers in 5-2 Series Opening Loss in Kinston

Carolina 2 @ Down East 5

June 21, 2022 | Venue : Grainger Stadium | First pitch : 7:01 PM | Att : 1,493 | T : 2:13

CAR: 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 6 2

DE: 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 x 5 6 0

WP: Gavin Collyer (3 - 2) LP: Edwin Jimenez (1 - 2) SV: Damian Mendoza (3)

KINSTON – Jeferson Quero homered in the eighth, Hendry Mendez had three hits and starter Edwin Jimenez matched a career high with six innings pitched, but the Carolina Mudcats saw their four-game winning streak come to an end after a 5-2 series opening loss to the Down East Wood Ducks on Tuesday night at Grainger Stadium.

The Mudcats (34-30) remained in first in the Carolina League North first half standings, but with just a 1.0 game lead over the Salem Red Sox, Lynchburg Hillcats and Fredericksburg Nationals. The first half schedule ends on Thursday, June 23. The winner of the first half title will secure a post-season playoff spot.

Alejandro Osuna and Daniel Mateo led the way for the Wood Ducks (31-33) as they combined for five hits, three runs and four RBI while batting first and second respectively. Mateo’s four RBI night included a go-ahead RBI single in the first, a go-ahead two-run home run in the third and a RBI single in the eighth.

The Mudcats never led but managed to tie it at 1-1 in the second on a sac fly from Jesus Chirinos, and pull within one of the lead in the eighth on Quero’s home run. That home run ran Carolina’s streak of a consecutive games with a home run to six and was his fifth of the season.

Edwin Jimenez started for the Mudcats and took the loss despite matching a career high with six innings pitched. Jimenez (1-2) allowed three runs (two earned), gave up four hits, and struck out six in the loss. He was followed by relievers Karlos Morales and Brannon Jordan who then combined on the final two innings. Morales gave up two runs and two hits over two and 2/3. Jordan faced two and allowed one of two inherited runners to score while recording two outs in the eighth.

Gavin Collyer earned the win after holding the Mudcats to a run on four hits over five and 1/3 innings. Collyer (3-2) also struck out six and worked around four walks in the victory. Damian Mendoza later earned the save while finishing the game with a double play hit into by pinch-hitter Oswal Leones.

HOME RUNS:

Carolina: Quero (5, 8th inning off MacLean, 0 on, 0 out).

Down East: Mateo (5, 3rd inning off Jimenez, 1 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Osuna, A, LF (Down East): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Mateo, CF (Down East): 3-for-4, 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI

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

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

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

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

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Jimenez (L, 1-2) (Carolina): 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO

Jordan (Carolina): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Collyer (W, 3-2) (Down East): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO

Hoopii-Tuionetoa (H, 1) (Down East): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Mendoza, D (S, 3) (Down East): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:

Wood Ducks 1st (Wood Ducks 1, Mudcats 0) -- Alejandro Osuna singles to right field. Alejandro Osuna steals 2nd base. Daniel Mateo singles up the middle, Alejandro Osuna scores; Daniel Mateo to 2nd. Marcus Smith grounds out to Jesus Chirinos, Daniel Mateo to 3rd. Maximo Acosta strikes out on foul tip. Efrenyer Narvaez grounds out, Edwin Jimenez to Jesus Chirinos.

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

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Wood Ducks 1) -- Hedbert Perez strikes out swinging, Efrenyer Narvaez to Abimelec Ortiz. Jean Carmona walks. Hendry Mendez doubles to right field, Jean Carmona to 3rd. Jesus Chirinos out on a sacrifice fly to Daniel Mateo, Jean Carmona scores. Zack Raabe strikes out swinging.

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

Wood Ducks 3rd (Wood Ducks 3, Mudcats 1) -- Junior Paniagua reaches on throwing error by Jean Carmona. Alejandro Osuna out on a sacrifice bunt, Jeferson Quero to Jesus Chirinos, Junior Paniagua to 2nd. Daniel Mateo hits a home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch, Junior Paniagua scores. Marcus Smith grounds out, Jheremy Vargas to Jesus Chirinos. Maximo Acosta strikes out swinging.

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

Mudcats 8th (Wood Ducks 3, Mudcats 2) -- Pitcher Change: Dylan MacLean replaces Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa. Jeferson Quero hits a home run to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch. Hedbert Perez grounds out, Abimelec Ortiz to Dylan MacLean. Jean Carmona strikes out swinging. Hendry Mendez singles to shallow right field. Pitcher Change: Damian Mendoza replaces Dylan MacLean. Jesus Chirinos grounds out, Derwin Barreto to Abimelec Ortiz.

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

Wood Ducks 8th (Wood Ducks 5, Mudcats 2) -- Junior Paniagua singles to center field. Alejandro Osuna grounds out, Karlos Morales to Eduardo Garcia to Jesus Chirinos, Junior Paniagua to 2nd. Daniel Mateo singles to right field, Junior Paniagua scores. Daniel Mateo steals 2nd base. Daniel Mateo steals 3rd base. Marcus Smith walks. Pitcher Change: Brannon Jordan replaces Karlos Morales. Marcus Smith steals 2nd base. Maximo Acosta reaches on fielding error by Jean Carmona, Daniel Mateo scores. Efrenyer Narvaez grounds into double play, Eduardo Garcia to Jheremy Vargas to Jesus Chirinos, Maximo Acosta out at 2nd, Efrenyer Narvaez out at 1st.

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