Mudcats season opener suspended due to rain

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The 2023 season opener between the Carolina Mudcats and Fayetteville Woodpeckers was suspended due to rain with the score tied at 1-1 through the fifth on Friday night at SEGRA Stadium in Fayetteville. The game is scheduled to resume on Saturday afternoon.

The Mudcats originally led 1-0 in the second after Kay-Lan Nicasia forced in Carolina’s first run of the season with a bases loaded walk. The Woodpeckers later tied it in the third when Rolando Espinosa doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch lost by Carolina starter Edwin Jimenez.

Despite the run-scoring wild pitch in the third, Jimenez pitched well as he worked through four innings with just one run allowed on three hits. Jimenez also totaled five strikeouts, including three straight in the first to start the game.

Reliever Miguel Guerrero worked the fifth and kept the game tied at 1-1 after stranding two baserunners and striking out the side.

Jadher Areinamo recorded Carolina’s first hit of the season after reaching on a single to load the bases in the second. Jace Avina led off that same inning with a walk and later scored Carolina’s first run of the year on Nicasia’s run-scoring base on balls.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:

Guilarte, 3B (Carolina): 1-for-2

Areinamo, 2B (Carolina): 1-for-2

Espinosa, R, LF (Fayetteville): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 2B

Clifford, RF (Fayetteville): 1-for-3

Whitaker, 3B (Fayetteville): 1-for-2

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:

Jimenez (Carolina): 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

Guerrero (Carolina): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Santa (Fayetteville): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO

Brockhouse (Fayetteville): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:

Mudcats 2nd (Mudcats 1, Woodpeckers 0) -- Avina walks Hall walks, Avina to 2nd Guilarte strikes out Areinamo singles to CF Cole Jr., Avina to 3rd, Hall to 2nd E Fernandez strikes out Nicasia walks, Avina scores, Hall to 3rd, Areinamo to 2nd Barrios reaches on a fielder's choice, Nicasia out at 2nd, 3B Whitaker to 2B Loftin

(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Woodpeckers 3rd (Mudcats 1, Woodpeckers 1) -- J Garcia strikes out Molina grounds out, 3B Guilarte to 1B Hall R Espinosa doubles to 2B Areinamo R Espinosa steals 3rd R Espinosa scores on a wild pitch (no RBI) Clifford singles to RF E Fernandez Whitaker walks, Clifford to 2nd Cole Jr. pops out to LF H Perez