Martinez hits for cycle as Mudcats sweep Kannapolis

Kannapolis, N.C. — Ernesto Martinez hit for the cycle and was one of four Mudcats to hit a home run during Carolina’s 10-3, series finale and sweep clinching, victory versus the Cannon Ballers on Sunday afternoon in Kannapolis. The victory was Carolina’s sixth straight, matching the club’s longest winning streak of the season.

Martinez doubled and scored a run in the second, tripled and scored a run in the fourth, singled in the sixth and hit a two-run home run in the ninth while hitting for the cycle and going 4-for-5 with three runs, two RBI and a strikeout. The cycle was Carolina’s fifth in franchise history and the club’s first since 2014 when Jerrud Sabourin accomplished the rare feat on July 19, 2014 versus Myrtle Beach.

Martinez was also one of four Mudcats (40-25) to homer in the game, with three of those coming in the ninth inning. Carolina’s first home run came from Joey Wiemer in the fourth and was a go-ahead blast that broke a 2-2 tie. Felix Valerio then started the big fly barrage with a solo home run with one out in the ninth. Martinez then followed a few batters later with his two-run and two-out blast and Mike Wilson capped what was a five run ninth with his first home run of the season. Wilson’s was also a two-out shot that also scored two as it followed a single from Alex Hall.

Antoine Kelly started and pitched into the second in what was his first appearance with the Mudcats. It was also just his second appearance of 2021 as he recently pitched in the Arizona Complex League with the Brewers Blue squad on July 13. Kelly walked two in his inning and 2/3 long start, with both walks turning into runs. He also struck out two and allowed one hit.

Cruz followed Kelly and went on to pitch through the seventh after originally entering the game with two outs in the second. In all, Cruz allowed just one run while scattering six hits over five and 2/3 innings pitched. He also faced 24 batters, totaled three strikeouts and walked one while earning the victory.

Robinson (S, 8) picked up the save after originally entering in the eighth with Carolina leading 5-2. He went on to allow an inherited runner to score, but eventually finished out the eighth and worked the ninth while striking out two and recording his eighth save.

Kannapolis (19-46) originally led 1-0 in the second before Martinez doubled and scored to tie the game at 1-1. That double came off starter Angel Acevedo and Martinez followed it by stealing third (his 20th stolen base of the season) a few moments later. Acevedo (1-4, 6.57) attempted to throw out Martinez at third, but he sailed the throw and the resulting error allowed Martinez to score the game tying run.

The Cannon Ballers scored again in their half of the second to go up 2-1, but Carolina answered in the third after Gabe Holt singled and scored on a single from Freddy Zamora. That hit for Zamora was his first of three in the game and it brought in Holt from second while tying the game at 2-2.

Wiemer then broke the 2-2 in the fourth by starting the inning with a line drive home run to the corner in left. The home run was his seventh of the season and his second of the series.

With Carolina leading 3-2, Martinez then followed Wiemer’s homer with his triple to right that flew under the outstretched arm of right-fielder Luis Mieses. Alex Hall then scored Martinez from third with a sacrifice fly as Carolina went up 4-2 in the fourth.

Carolina led 4-2 through the sixth before getting one more across in the seventh when Zamora singled and scored on a sac fly from Noah Campbell. The Mudcats then took a 5-2 lead into the eighth, but the Cannon Ballers would score once in that frame to cut the lead down to 5-3.

The Mudcats then broke the game open in the ninth by slugging three homers with Valerio, Martinez and Wilson each hitting home runs. That big fly burst lifted Carolina to a 10-3 lead and came against reliever Karan Patel (1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). The Cannon Ballers also used pitcher Martin Carrasco (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) and Jordan Mikel in the game (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO). Mikel worked the final out in the ninth in relief of Patel.

Carolina won all six games in the series and swept the Cannon Ballers for the second time this season. The Mudcats will now take their six-game winning streak back home as they open a new six-day and seven-game home stand on Tuesday at Five County Stadium.