Wood Ducks Blown Out of Water Against Mudcats

ZEBULON, NC - Despite the nine hits from the Wood Ducks' offense, they could not overcome a nine-run first inning for the Mudcats on Tuesday night, falling 11-2. Ledarious Clark and Luis La O each had multiple hits and an RBI, Jeffrey Springs could not escape the first inning in his shortest start as a professional.

Ironically, the Woodies scored first in the first inning. Clark hit a one-out triple off the wall in right field, and scored when the infield was drawn-in for La O's chopper over third base. The tone of the bottom of the first was set early, when both Corey Ray and Luis Aviles Jr. reached on first-pitch singles against Springs.
The lefty would have trouble locating the rest of the inning with a walk to Isan Díaz to load the bases. Later, back-to-back bases-loaded walks, a two-run single, and a hit batter ended Springs' night early after nine batters. Omarlin Lopez struggled in the first inning of relief as he inherited the bases full.
Ray hit a two-run double on the second pitch from Lopez, and Diaz added a three-run double to set the score at 9-1 after one inning. An unearned run would score in the second after a Carlos Arroyo fielding error at first allowed Lucas Erceg to score from second.
Corbin Burnes continued his tear on Carolina League bats in his seven quality innings against Down East. An unearned run crossed in the sixth when Eduard Pinto reached on a single to right, then made it to third on a thrown-away pickoff attempt. He scored on Clark's single to right field, marking Clark's 12th multi-hit game which ties him for the team lead.
Not to go unnoticed, Jason Richman faced the minimum out of the bullpen in his two innings with a strikeout and a double play. The southpaw threw 15 pitches, with 13 counted for strikes.
Arguably the highlight of the night was Jairo Beras emerged from the bullpen in the eighth to pitch for the first time as a professional. There is no duspute about his 1-2-3 inning against the meat of the Mudcats order, there are conflicting reports on his fastball velocity.
Down East Video Coordinator Tyler Carroll had 98 MPH as his peak, Carolina's pitchers charting the game had one pitch register at 101 MPH on their gun, and the stadium gun (which is known for running "hot") had two pitches register at 102 MPH, and eight overall of at least 100 MPH. What we do know is MLB.com rates the No.16 prospectin the Rangers system as a 70 grade arm (on 20-80 scale).
Game three of four is Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m., with right-hander Tyler Davis making a spot start for the Woodies. He'll be opposed by righty Jordan Yamamoto for the Mudcats. You can listen to every pitch of the 2017 season live on Sports/Talk 960 The Bull or streamed live on the TuneIn Radio app.