Fri. 5/26 - Kicking Off the Long Weekend

[Joseph Zarr]

Figueroa gets the K on a beautiful slider down and away to Galan who had previously smashed his 6th HR. We're on to the bottom of the 4th. 2-0 Wood Ducks.

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, in Cedar Rapids, RHP Cameron Wagoner has two men on but got some super bad luck on a grounder up th emiddle that was a sure out directly to Robert Moore. It deflected off his cleat into the shallow RF grass to get two men on with two down. He's 3-1 to the current batter. Make that 3-2 on a gorgeous curve ball on the inner stripe. A gem of a pitch. Gutsy. With the count 3-2, he throws another curve ball that finds too much center cut and it bloops into the shallow LF grass. 1-0 Kernels. That's some bad luck.

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy, if I'm targeting a young prospect in the Rangers system I'm looking at RHP Brock Porter. He really impressed tonight. He's just a young but impressive 19 years old (drafted out of high school). He leaves early with an apparent left leg injury? Regardless, a very very impressive tool kit.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Jeferson Figueroa has really improved in this last season plus. He has really dialed in his delivery - it's a tighter cleaner look with a consistent and cleaner delivery. He's always had a solid heater with good rise but his off-speed offerings have really advanced. His change-up and slider combo have become weapons. The ERA doesn't tell the story here. He's improving. He kind of reminds me of where RHP Edwin Jimenez was last year as a starter: tools, loads of talent, but lacking refinement. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats are threatening here in the 5th baby. Bases are juiced. Nobody down. Avina just laid off a very close full count high heater. OF Hedbert Perez will get the opportunity to drive in some runs.

[Joseph Zarr]

Perez strikes out swinging - all three strikes were swinging misses on balls outside the zone. Not what we're looking for there. One down. Bases still juiced. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Diaz strikes out looking. INF Alexander Perez will look for his first knock as a Mudcat in a big spot. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey now! Perez takes the free bag on a full count heater low and inside he lays off. 2-1 Wood Ducks. Let's go! Our first affiliate run of the evening!😅

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats pitching staff has 11 K through 5 1/3 IP. I'll take it. Meanwhile in Cedar Rapids, RHP Cameron Wagoner continues to do his best impression of batting practice. He's conceded a mere 3 runs but he's also surrendered 8 hits and a walk in only 3 IP. (toss in a balk and a WP to boot) He really struggles with location. He doesn't have the velo so he really needs to locate. So far, in 2023, he just doesn't.

[Joseph Zarr]

INF Patrick Dorrian just ripped a 2-run jack after a 1B/DH Luke Voit rbi double. 3-0 Sounds baby. Meanwhile, Wagoner just gave up another deep rip off the wall. Men on 2nd and 3rd. Nobody out. That's 9 hits in just 3 IP. Just ugly ugly stuff. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hr 50 minute mark of the Shuckers broadcast C Jeferson Quero took a foul ball directly off his throwing hand/wrist. He was visited by manager Mike Guerrero and the head trainer for a good several minutes. He was left in the game but if he misses any time that's where we'll look.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh boy. Bases juiced yet again. This time on three hits. One down. We're in the bottom of the 8th frame here. And Nicasia will attempt to tie this or take the lead. 2-1 Wood Ducks.

[Joseph Zarr]

Jesus Chirinos takes the very patient approach and walks freely to first on a 3-1 slider down and away. Glorious. 2-2, baby! That's two run-scoring walks. Whewwwww. Bases still juiced for Jheremy Vargas and there are two down. This is a great crowd in Zebulon too. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I'm here to tell you: RHP Tyler Wehrle is pretty nasty. He has some really nice off-speed stuff and a deceptive toolkit given his violent delivery. Really nice young relief arm.

[Joseph Zarr]

OH BABY!!!!! OF Hedbert Perez no doubter two-run walk-off jack in the bottom of the 9th. WHewwwwwwwwww. 4-2. And we're 1/2 game ahead in 1st place babyyyyyyy. Beautiful swing on a low off-speed delivery. His first HR in 2023. Wow. The Mudcats first walk-off.  Man I love this Mudcats team. What a great group of hard-working and enthusiastic young men. Let's also tip the cap to OF Jace Avina who worked the key lead-off single. On a 2-2 pitch, he took a sinker with a fantastic well-hit liner to LF. 

They wanted this one:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

And I flip to Nashville where I see Payton Henry rip a deep fly off the wall in dead center for his third knock (3-for-3) and a lead-off double her in the bottom of the 5th. It's 4-4. We're trying to tie the series. This is a feisty back-and-forth affair. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh baby! C Jeferson Quero rips a 2-2 heater to dead CF and ties the game with a two run blast. It's 3-3! Let's GO!

[Joseph Zarr]

The scuffling RHP Cam Robinson is on to try and keep this game tied at 3-3 to start the top of the 9th. Whewww. Come on Cam! Let's go! He gives up a lead-off 0-1 single on a hanging curve ball. Ruh roh. Dig deep, Cam. Find your stuff!

[Joseph Zarr]

Two K. Quero and Zamora missed the strike him out throw him out by inches (if any) on a bang-bang play. The ball and the tag may have missed the runner. Too close to call. Man on 2nd. 2-1 count. Two down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy the home plate ump blows a called strike 3 on a gorgeous curve up and in. Absolutely tanked it. Just after the possible blown call on the tag at 2nd base? Whewww. These are tough pills to swallow. Count is now full. I don't buy it. It. Does. Not. Matter. Robinson rips a heater at the knees for his third K of the inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

It's that kind of season for RHP Cam Robinson. Two absolute flares find the outfield grass. The leading run comes across on the single to LF. Now there are men on 1st and 2nd, nobody down, after a bloop flare to shallow RF that fell between Noah Campbell and the charging Lamar Sparks. His pitch count is in the 30's. And, this is where you'd probably like to see the move to the warming up Vennarro. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Two flares and then a reach poke into LF. The bases are juiced now. Nobody down. And RHP Zach Vennarro is on the hill. Yikes.

[wiguy94]

Lamar Sparks has an absolute cannon my goodness...

[Joseph Zarr]

Wow. What an absolute dart throw from Lamar Sparks in RF. Holy cow. An absolute cannon on the DOT.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Lamar Sparks has an absolute cannon my goodness...

Just was commenting. That was unreal.