Mudcats Win Fifth Straight, 3-2 in Columbia

Carolina erased an early deficit while winning their fifth straight game

Gregory Barrios - Carolina Mudcats (Credit: Neal Hock)

July 30, 2023

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 6 0
COL: 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 2

WP: Tyler Wehrle (7 - 5) LP: Mack Anglin (1 - 1) SV: Yerlin Rodriguez (6)

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Luke Adams went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs and a double, Luis Castillo had two hits and Gregory Barrios went 1-for-4 with a game-tying two-run single while leading the Carolina Mudcats to a 3-2 victory versus the Columbia Fireflies on Saturday night at Segra Park. The victory was the fifth straight for the first-place Mudcats.

The Fireflies (13-16, 48-46) initially led 2-0 in the first thanks to an Omar Hernandez two-run homer in the opening frame off Carolina (18-10, 51-40) starter Logan Henderson. Despite allowing the home run, Henderson worked through the fifth with two runs, four hits and eight strikeouts.

Columbia starter Ryan Ramsey held the 2-0 lead through the fifth and into the sixth before leaving the game with five and 1/3 scoreless frames. Mack Anglin took over for Ramsey and went on to allow a game-tying, two-run single to Barrios in the sixth.

The Mudcats later broke the 2-2 tie in the eighth when Barrios reached on an error that forced in Adams as the go-ahead. Anglin (L, 1-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits.

Carolina reliever Tyler Wehrle (W, 7-5) earned the win for the Mudcats as he worked through two and 1/3 with a walk, a strikeout and two hits.

Yerlin Rodriguez pitched the final two outs in the eighth and worked the ninth while earning his sixth save. Rodriguez (S, 6) faced only four the rest of the way and struck out two.

*HOME RUNS:
*Columbia: Hernandez, O (5, 1st inning off Henderson, 1 on, 0 out).

*STOLEN BASES:
*Carolina: Adams (26, 2nd base off Ramsey/Hernandez, O); Guilarte (18, 2nd base off Ramsey/Hernandez, O).

Columbia: Rodriguez, L (11, 2nd base off Henderson/Diaz); Hernandez, O (24, 2nd base off Henderson/Diaz).

*TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
*Adams, 3B (Carolina): 2-for-2, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 BB
Barrios, 2B (Carolina): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Castillo, RF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 2B
Hernandez, O, C (Columbia): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Rodriguez, L, 2B (Columbia): 2-for-4, 1 R

*TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
*Henderson (Carolina): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO
Wehrle (W, 7-5) (Carolina): 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Rodriguez (S, 6) (Carolina): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Ramsey (Columbia): 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
McKeehan (Columbia): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

*SCORING:
*Fireflies 1st (Fireflies 2, Mudcats 0) -- Lizandro Rodriguez singles to right-center field. Lizandro Rodriguez steals 2nd base. Omar Hernandez hits a home run to left field on a 2-1 pitch, Lizandro Rodriguez scores. Austin Charles flies out to Luis Lara. Brett Squires strikes out swinging. Daniel Vazquez grounds out, Gregory Barrios to Jesus Chirinos. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 6th (Mudcats 2, Fireflies 2) -- Daniel Guilarte flies out to Erick Pena. Pitcher Change: Mack Anglin replaces Ryan Ramsey. Luis Lara walks. Luke Adams doubles to left-center field, Luis Lara to 3rd. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging. Gregory Barrios singles up the middle, Luis Lara scores; Luke Adams scores; Gregory Barrios to 2nd. Luis Castillo grounds out, Lizandro Rodriguez to Brett Squires. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 3, Fireflies 2) -- Daniel Guilarte struck out looking. Luis Lara grounds out, Daniel Vazquez to Brett Squires. Luke Adams walks. Wild pitch by Mack Anglin, Luke Adams to 2nd. Jesus Chirinos singles to deep shortstop, Luke Adams to 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Reidy Mercado replaces Jesus Chirinos. Gregory Barrios reaches on fielding error by Austin Charles, Luke Adams scores; Reid Mercado to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Cooper McKeehan replaces Mack Anglin. Luis Castillo singles to shallow left field, Reidy Mercado to 3rd; Gregory Barrios to 2nd. Kay-Lan Nicasia strikes out swinging. (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB)