Carolina wins fifth straight while blasting Cannon Ballers, 13-1

Zebulon, N.C. — Felix Valerio matched a franchise record with four doubles, Mike Wilson hit a two-run home run and Zavier Warren, Noah Campbell and Darrien Miller each had three hits as the Carolina offense exploded for 20 hits in a 13-1 series finale victory versus the Cannon Ballers on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium. TJ Shook started and struck out five over five scoreless and earned the win in what was Carolina’s fifth straight victory.

Carolina (51-33) matched a season high with 20 hits in the game with every player in the lineup totaling at least one hit. Valerio led the way with his four hits as he went 4-for-6 with two runs and four doubles. Those four doubles matched a franchise record originally set by Mike Brown on April 16, 1994.

The game was scoreless through the third before the Mudcats broke the scoreless tie with an eight run and eight hit fourth. Kannapolis (26-58) starter Jesus Valles (3-2, 4.93) allowed seven of those eight runs and took the loss.

Valerio started Carolina’s eight run frame with a double before scoring a moments later on a hit to left from Freddy Zamora. Joey Wiemer followed with a flyout, but Warren and Campbell (bunt single) followed with back-to-back hits to load the bases. Miller then drove in two with a hard single up the first base line to put Carolina up 3-0. Andre Nnebe then drove in two more with a single up the third base line and Wilson would add on two more with his home run to right. The home run was Wilson’s second of the year and it gave the Mudcats a 7-0 lead. The rally would eventually end with a sacrifice fly from Zamora, but the damage was done as Carolina led 8-0 after four.

The Mudcats went on to add on to their lead in the sixth when Zamora walked and scored on a force hit into by Campbell. They added one more in the seventh when Valerio doubled and scored on a single from Zamora and finished their big scoring day with three in the eighth while taking a 13-0 lead. Warren and Campbell both started the eighth with hits off reliever Rigo Fernandez and both later scored during what was a three-run inning. Gabe Holt and Valerio both had run scoring hits in the eighth, with Valerio's being his fourth double of the game.

Carolina’s big day at the plate came in support of strong pitching performances from Shook (3-1, 4.50) and relievers Christian Tripp and Brock Begue. Shook totaled five strikeouts, allowed just two hits and pitched around three walks while earning his third victory of the season. He also reached 64 pitches (43 strikes) in what was just his second outing since returning for the injured list on July 30. Tripp followed Shook and pitched through his second straight scoreless outing while also totaling seven strikeouts. Begue finished the game and gave up one run in the ninth.

Carolina won five of six games in the series, with their lone loss coming in the series opener in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. Sunday’s 13-1 victory came in both the final game of the six-game series and the final game between Kannapolis and Carolina for the season. The Mudcats finished the season series with 20 wins versus Kannapolis while going 20-4 for the year.