Fitzpatrick, Rivero & Rodriguez Blank Ballers 2-0

The Mudcats scored two late runs while defeating Kannapolis on Wednesday night

Brian Fitzpatrick - Neal Hock (Credit: Neal Hock)

August 16, 2023

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 8 1
KAN: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3

WP: Jesus Rivero (1 - 1) LP: Horacio Andujar (2 - 4) SV: Yerlin Rodriguez (10)

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Jadher Areinamo doubled in a run to break a scoreless tie in the seventh, Jace Avina added to the late lead with a RBI double in the eighth and starter Brian Fitzpatrick allowed just one baserunner and struck out five over four hitless innings as the Carolina Mudcats blanked the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 2-0 on Wednesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

Fitzpatrick started for the first-place Mudcats (28-16, 61-46) and retired eight straight to start the game while facing just one over the minimum over four no-hit innings. He walked a batter with two outs in the third, struck out five and faced just 13 batters overall.

Aldrin Batista started for Kannapolis (21-23, 56-53) and worked through five scoreless with three hits allowed, but Carolina eventually broke through with two late runs in the seventh and eighth off relievers Horacio Andujar and Logan Lyle to take game two of the six-game road series.

Areinamo drove in the first run of the game with a RBI double off Andujar (L, 2-4) in the seventh and Avina did the same in the eighth off Lyle. Kay-Lan Nicasia doubled and scored on Areinamo’s hit in the seventh and Luke Adams reached on an error, stole second and scored on Avina’s hit in the eighth.

Carolina led 2-0 in the eighth before turning the game over to reliever Yerlin Rodriguez with one out in the eighth. Rodriguez (S, 10) inherited a bases loaded jam in the eighth, but went on to strand all three inherited runners and later finished the game with a strikeout and a double play while leaving two on in the ninth. He originally started the ninth by hitting a batter and walking another before escaping unscathed to close out the series tying victory.

Jesus Rivero earned the victory as he worked through three and 1/3 scoreless innings following Fitzpatrick’s start and Rodriguez’s save. Rivero (W, 1-1) scattered five hits, walked two and struck out four in his victorious appearance.

The shutout victory was Carolina’s seventh of the season. The victory also evened Carolina’s road series at 1-1 with the Cannon Ballers in Kannapolis and improved Carolina’s lead in the second half standings to 5.0 games.

STOLEN BASES:
Carolina: O'Rae (3, 2nd base off Batista/Harris); Adams (28, 2nd base off Lyle/Harris).
Kannapolis: Sanchez, W (21, 2nd base off Fitzpatrick/Diaz); Park (1, 2nd base off Rivero/Diaz).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Areinamo, SS (Carolina): 1-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Avina, LF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Nicasia, CF (Carolina): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Castillo, RF (Carolina): 2-for-4
Park, CF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 1 BB

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Fitzpatrick (Carolina): 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Rivero (W, 1-1) (Carolina): 3.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Rodriguez (S, 10) (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Batista (Kannapolis): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Andujar (L, 2-4) (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Lyle (Kannapolis): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

SCORING:
Mudcats 7th (Mudcats 1, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Blayberg Diaz flies out to Eddie Park. Kay-Lan Nicasia hits a ground rule double to left field. Dylan O'Rae flies out to Chris Lanzilli. Jadher Areinamo doubles to right field, Kay-Lan Nicasia scores. Jose Sibrian flies out to Drake Logan. (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 2, Cannon Ballers 0) -- Pitcher Change: Logan Lyle replaces Horacio Andujar. Jesus Chirinos grounds out, Jordan Sprinkle to Jhoneiker Betancourt. Luke Adams reaches on fielding error by Jhoneiker Betancourt. Luke Adams steals 2nd base. throwing error by Calvin Harris. Luis Castillo grounds out to Jhoneiker Betancourt. Jace Avina doubles to left field, Luke Adams scores. Blayberg Diaz grounds out, Jacob Gonzalez to Jhoneiker Betancourt. (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 2 Errors, 1 LOB)