Mudcats lose lead in 9th, fall 6-5 to Frederick Keys
Braxton Davidson and Reed Harper both hit home runs, but the Keys rallied for two runs and three hits in the ninth against Chase Johnson-Mullins while walking off 6-5 against the Mudcats on Monday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Johnson-Mullins entered the ninth with a 5-4 lead and retired the first batter he faced before giving up three hits and two runs in the final frame. The blown save was just his second in 10 tries and the fifth in 23 opportunities for the Carolina (31-44, 2-3) bullpen this year.
Conor Bierfeldt and Jomar Reyes both had doubles in the ninth for the Keys. Bierfeldt scored on Reyes’ double to right to tie the game and Reyes scored the game winner on a single to left from Cam Kneeland.
Bierfeldt was 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a home run in the series-opening win for the Keys. Knee land had the game winning hit and two doubles while going 3-for-4 with a RBI.
Max Povse started for the Mudcats and ended up without a decision after leaving the game with his club leading 5-4 in the eighth. Povse gave up two home runs and allowed four runs on seven hits.
A.J. Minter pitched the eighth and retired the Keys in order while working through his seventh straight scoreless appearance.
The Mudcats led 5-1 in the third after getting a two-run home run from Davidson in the first, a RBI single from Omar Obregon in the second and Harper’s solo home run in the third.
Davidson’s home run was his fifth of the season and his second in his last four games. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Harper’s home run was his first of the season; he was 2-for-4 with two runs in the loss. Stephen Gaylor (2-for-5) and Obregon (2-for-4) also had two hits in Monday’s loss in Frederick.
Lucas Long started for the Keys and allowed all five Mudcats runs over the first three innings. He eventually settled down after allowing Harper’s home run in the third and went on to retire seven straight before leaving the game.
Long pitched through the fifth and struck out six while allowing five runs on nine hits. Ivan Hernandez followed him with three scoreless frames out of the Frederick bullpen and Tanner Chleborad (2-2, 3.62) finished the game with a scoreless ninth.
The series will continue on Tuesday night in Frederick with LHP Michael O’Neal making a spot start for the Mudcats.
Monday’s box score
Carolina Mudcats | ab | r | h | bi |
Stephen Gaylor, CF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Omar Obregon, SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Braxton Davidson, RF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Sal Giardina, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Keith Curcio, DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tanner Murphy, C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Reed Harper, 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Jordan Edgerton, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Erison Mendez, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Totals | 36 | 5 | 11 | 4 |
Frederick Keys | ab | r | h | bi |
Erick Salcedo, SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Caleb Joesph, C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Jonah Heim, C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wynston Sawyer, DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Aderlin Rodriguez, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jay Gonzalez, CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
D.J Stewart, CF-LF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Conor Bierfeldt, RF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
4Jomar Reyes, 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Stephen Wilkerson, 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cameron Kneeland, LF | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Totals | 34 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
Carolina | 221 | 000 | 000 | — | 5 | 11 | 1 |
Frederick | 101 | 200 | 002 | — | 6 | 10 | 0 |
E — Davidson. DP–Carolina 1, Frederick 1. LOB–Carolina 5, Frederick 5. 2B–Giardina, Gaylor; Kneeland, Bierfeldt, Reyes. 3B–Salcedo. HR—Davidson (5), Harper (1); Wilkerson (1), Bierfeldt (8). SF–Joesph,C. SB–Gaylor. CS—Mendez.
Carolina Mudcats IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Max Povse | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
A.J Minter (H, 4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Chase Johnson-Mullins (BS,2) (L,0-4) | 1/3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Frederick Keys IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Lucas Long | 5 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
Ivan Hernadez | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Tanner Chleborad (W,2-2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 11:30 PM with the headline "Mudcats lose lead in 9th, fall 6-5 to Frederick Keys."