Holt, McGee and Miller power Mudcats to series-clinching win

Zebulon, N.C. — Gabe Holt had four hits, including three doubles, and both Ashton McGee and Darrien Miller hit two-run home runs as the Carolina Mudcats clinched a series win with a 9-4 victory over the Down East Wood Ducks on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium. The first place Mudcats won four of seven in the series and moved to 5.0 games ahead of Down East in the Low-A East Central standings.

Carolina (44-28) struck first after getting a double and a run from Holt in the opening frame. Down East (39-33), however, came back with a home run from Cristian Inoa to tie it and then a go-ahead RBI single from newly signed catcher Konnor Piotto in the fourth. That single was Piotto’s first career hit and scored Thomas Saggese after he doubled to start the inning.

Down East had a 2-1 lead going into the fifth before McGee delivered a two-run homer to give the Mudcats a 3-2 lead. The home run scored Holt as he doubled for the second time two batters earlier and was McGee’s sixth homer of the season. It was also his second home run in as many games and his second at home this season. Zavier Warren immediately followed with a single before scoring two batters later on a single by Ernesto Martinez.

Carolina led 4-2 after the fifth and went on to take a 7-3 lead with three more runs in the sixth inning. That inning included a RBI double from Holt, his third double of the game, and a two-run single from Felix Valerio. Miller then added to the lead in the eighth with a two-run home run as Carolina went up 9-3. The Wood Ducks then scored an unearned run against reliever Cam Robinson in the ninth, but the Mudcats would go on to win 9-4.

Robinson was the fifth and final pitcher to appear in the game for the Mudcats. He ended up allowing one unearned run over one inning and struck out two. Jhoan Cruz started and worked through four and 2/3 innings with two runs allowed on eight hits. Cruz also struck out six and walked two while finishing without a decision.

Miguel Guerrero followed and earned the victory after allowing one run on two hits over one full inning. Guerrero (5-2, 6.18) originally came into the game during the fifth, but left with two on and with two outs in the seventh. Kent Hasler followed and left both inherited runners on base while finishing off the inning. Hasler went on to return to pitch the seventh, but did not record an out while leaving with two men on base as well. Carolina then turned to Nate Peden for the seventh and he would go on to strand both inherited runners and work a scoreless eighth before giving way to Robinson.

Eris Filpo took the loss for the Wood Ducks after allowing three runs on four hits over an inning and a 1/3. He allowed three Carolina runs in the fifth. Connor Sechler then allowed three as well in the sixth. The Wood Ducks used six pitchers with Teodoro Ortega starting and Destin Dotson, Filpo (1-2, 9.35), Sechler, Spencer Mraz and Jesus Linarez following in the loss.