Mudcats Win in Extras

5/1/22 Game Recap

by: Jackson Pass

Winston Santos started on the bump for the Woodies, in the ealy 1:00pm Sunday game. Santos gave up one hit to Jeferson Quero, moving Hendry Mendez to third, where they were left stranded on a Santos strikeout to end the inning. The Mudcats starter, Miguel Segura, recorded outs on the first three Woodies batters. Santos returns with the same energy as Segura, going three up three down in the top of the second. Maximo Acosta led off the bottom of the second off on a unique popup double that landed on the pitcher's mound. Acosta scored on an RBI single by Jose Rodriguez to plate the first run of the game.

Both teams did not do too much in terms of offense in the third and fourth inning with the Woodies striking again in the bottom of the fifth, the Wood Ducks got one aboard with a two out walk. A double from Jose Acosta off the right field wall drove in Galan from first, with Acosta advancing to third on the throw home. Mateo reached first on a walk but both runners were left on base, Woodies up 2-0.

The Mudcats had a two hit sixth but failed to do any damage, as Teodoro Ortega replaced Santos, throwing 5.2 innings with four hits and five strikeouts, as Ortega got the last out of the inning. Carlos Rodrigues replaced Segura in the bottom half, throwing 5.0, with four strikeouts and two earned runs. Tucker Mitchell started things off with a leadoff triple on the first pitch, scoring on a wild pitch. Then Maximo Acosta hit a homer to left on a 3-0 count. Woodies end the inning up 4-0.

Ortega threw to three batters in the seventh, getting all batters out. In the eighth, Ortega let two on, walking both, for Steve Mintz to call to the bullpen bringing in Destin Dotson. Dotson with one out to give up a 3 run HR to Eduardo Garcia, making it 4-3 as he struck out two to end the inning. Rodriguez, threw 2.1 also giving up two earned runs and was relieved by Jakob Brustoski. Brustoski recorded the last two outs of the inning by way of a strikeout.

With one out left to close the game for the Woodies, Dotson was taken deep by Jheremy Vargas to tie the game up at four. The Woodies get runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth, falling to cross the plate taking us to extras.

In extra innings, the last out of the previous inning starts out on second. New pitcher in for the Woodies was Michael Brewer, as the first batter in the top of the tenth hits a sharp groundball to Jose Acosta at second, who throws the ball to third, retiring the runner trying to advance. A double by Cipion put runners at second and third with one out. Eduardo Garcia doubles on a 3-5 night, to score both runners, totaling five RBI’s in the game for Garcia. The Woodies down 6-4 go into the bottom of the tenth facing new Mudcats pitcher Trevor Tietz, where Woodies have two runners in scoring position, but are struck out three times to end the game.

The Wood Ducks (9-12) and Carolina Mudcats (11-10) end their series with the Mudcats favor 4-2. The Woodies go on the road next week to face the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, before returning home to Grainger Stadium on May 10th to face Lynchburg.

Fans can purchase tickets on woodducksbaseball.com, by calling the Wood Ducks Team Offices at (252) 686-5164 or in the Wood Ducks Team Offices located at Grainger Stadium (Mon-Fri – 9am - 4pm). Make sure to follow your Down East Wood Ducks on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook so you don’t miss anything!