Krietemeier delivers in 10th in 4-3 win

WILMINGTON, DE - Tanner Krietemeier broke a 2-2 tie in the tenth with a two-out, two-run double and the Mudcats held off the Blue Rocks to take the rubber game of a three game series 4-3 on Thursday at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington.

The Mudcats (60-56, 26-22) led 2-0 after the first and led 2-1 though the sixth before the Blue Rocks (53-63, 15-31) tied things up 2-2 in the seventh. Carolina finally broke through again with two in the tenth and escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the same inning to win the game 4-3.

The Mudcats started the final frame with a leadoff single to deep short by Joey Meneses and then saw Jacob Schrader single to shallow center. Carlos Franco followed by hitting into a force at second and Sal Giardina then struck out. Krietemeier then hit a deep liner to left with the ball narrowly landing fair to bring in two with two outs in the inning.

Yender Caramo (L, 4-7, 2.86) allowed both tenth inning runs and worked the final four innings for the Blue Rocks while suffering the loss. The Mudcats collected seven hits against him, but managed to score just two runs with both scoring in the tenth. Caramo escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh and left two Mudcats on in the eighth.

Bradley Roney (W, 2-0, 0.87) earned the win after finishing the ninth and working through the tenth. Roney walked the bags full in the tenth, but escaped the inning by getting Mauricio Ramos to hit into a double play and by getting Ryan O'Hearn to line out to second. O'Hearn's game ending liner was caught by Reed Harper who came in the game earlier in the same inning as a pinch runner. Roney allowed one run in the tenth and finished the game with the tying run left at third.

Carolina finished the game just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. The Blue Rocks also struggled to score and combined to leave 16 on and go 2-for-21 with runners in scoring position. They left the tying run on in the tenth, three on in the ninth, two in the eighth, two in the seventh and three in the sixth. Wilmington had a runner reach base in every inning in the game and had the leadoff man reach safely in the first through the seventh.

Brandon Barker started the game for the Mudcats and pitched through the sixth with just one run allowed. He struck out three, walked two and scattered six hits in his start. He allowed a leadoff batter in each inning pitched, but held Carolina's 2-1 lead through the sixth.

The Mudcats originally jumped out to a first inning lead after Keith Curcio started the game with a leadoff homer off Wilmington starter Jakob Junis. Schrader later reached on a two-out double and scored moments later on a chopping single to center from Franco.

Junis allowed two runs in the first, but went on to hold the Mudcats without a run through the sixth. He finished his start with one walk, six strikeouts and five hits. Caramo took over in the seventh and pitched through the tenth while suffering the loss.

The Mudcats rode their two run first and early lead all the way through the sixth before the Blue Rocks tied it up with a run off reliever Jorge Zavala in the seventh. Zavala started the inning by allowing a leadoff triple to Carlos Garcia and later a RBI double to Mauricio Ramos. Zavala allowed one run, two hits and struck out two in the seventh before leaving the game.

Carlos Salazar took over in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning before finding trouble in the ninth. The ninth started with a groundout, but continued with a two base error by Schrader, a strikeout and then an intentional walk. Salazar lost a wild pitch after the walk and fell behind 2-0 to Cam Gallagher before issuing another intentional walk with runners at second third. Roney then entered the game and induced a pop out in foul territory to end the inning with the bases loaded. The inning ending catch was made well behind first and was an over-the-shoulder basket catch by Schrader.

The victory was Carolina's first in extra innings this season and just their third extra inning game overall of the year. They had previously played just one extra inning game before their series in Wilmington.

The Mudcats took the finale in extras 4-3 and won the series two games to one. The win, combined with a Winston-Salem loss, pulled the Mudcats to three games out of first in the second half standings. The Mudcats next play in Frederick against the Keys on Friday night with newly signed left-hander Matt Bywater starting on the mound.

All games air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, Rock City 99.3 FM and Sports 1490 AM. Games are also streamed online at www.carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio app. TuneIn Radio is the official digital audio partner of MiLB.com.

Individual tickets are now available online at www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium box office.

Premium Field Level seats are $12.00, Box Seats are $10.00 and Cattail Skybox Seats are $15.00. Flex plans, group tickets and the "Muddy Unreal Deal" plan are also currently available for purchase.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The 2015 "Braves New World" season is the first for the Mudcats as an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and their fourth straight in the historic Carolina League. First established in 1991, the Carolina Mudcats are entering their 25th straight season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. Fans can purchase tickets or find more information by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

# # #