Ninth Inning Rally Lifts Mudcats to Series Victory

May 7, 2023 – Carolina League (CarL) – Carolina Mudcats News Release

SALISBURY, Md. – Jace Avina broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and Jesus Parra immediately followed with a bases clearing, three-run double to lift the Carolina Mudcats to a series clinching 7-3 victory versus the Delmarva Shorebirds on Sunday afternoon at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md.

With the victory the Mudcats (15-10) earned their third straight series victory while also improving to 10-4 in away games this season. Carolina’s 10-4 road record matches their best road record to start a season since the 2005 Mudcats also opened the year at 10-4 away from home.

The Mudcats also moved into a tie with the Down East Wood Ducks for first place in the Carolina League North Division standings. The Shorebirds (14-11) fell back to second at a game out of first.

Jeison Pena earned the victory for the Mudcats as he worked the final inning and 2/3 after taking over for Tanner Shears in the eighth. Pena (4-0) stranded both of his inherited baserunners while escaping the eighth without allowing a run. He later allowed a run in the ninth, but finished his outing with one run, one hit, one walk and two strikeouts.

Carolina originally led 2-0 early thanks to a two-run single from Wood in the third. Wood ended up driving in 10 RBI total over Carolina’s six-game set in Delmarva.

The Shorebirds were down 2-0 from the third through the sixth before Creed Willems tied things up with a two-run home run off Shears in the seventh. That home run accounted for Shears’ first run allowed of the season. It also came after a leadoff walk by reliever Chase Costello who had originally pithed the seventh before leaving the game with a runner on.

The game was tied at 2-2 through the eighth before the Mudcats rallied for five runs and three hits in the ninth to win it. The rally started with Avina’s hit-by-pitch and continued with Parra’s three-run double and eventually a single from Daniel Guilarte. Guilarte’s hit forced in a run, but was immediately followed by an error, thus negating his chance for a RBI.

Guilarte’s hit in the ninth was his only hit of the game and extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games. It also stretched his on-base streak to 23 straight.

Jacob Misiorowski started and totaled a career-high eight strikeouts over a career-high three and 2/3 innings pitched. Misiorowski also allowed just one hit and walked one while reaching 52 pitches (34 strikes).

The…