Mudcats eke past Wood Ducks, 2-1

The Carolina Mudcats finally got a win in Kinston in 2018. It took until the final game of the season between the Mudcats and Down East Wood Ducks at Historic Grainger Stadium as the Woodies fell 2-1 to the Muddies in front of 1,721 fans Thursday night.

Weston Wilson’s full-count, two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning proved to be the difference as Carolina (24-27 second half, 58-63 overall) snapped an eight-game losing streak in Kinston this season.

The Wood Ducks (17-36, 52-71) challenged in the bottom of the eighth with two runners on base when Anderson Tejeda hit a double. The hit scored Brendon Davis but LeDarious Clark was thrown out at home after a laser-beam throw from Carolina right-fielder Cooper Hummel to second baseman Nick Roscetti to catcher Mario Feliciano.

The Woodies only managed four hits in the game, with Tejeda garnering two of them. Carolina had three hits, with Roscetti picking up two.

Victor Diaz earned the victory with 4.1 innings of two-hit baseball to improve to 6-7. Luke Barker earned his Carolina League-leading 18th save with 1.1 innings of work.

Rollie Lacy was simply dominant in his seven innings on the mound for the Woodies. The 23-year-old right-hander from Dallas only gave up one hit while walking two and striking out six. Wood Ducks reliever Sal Mendez fell to 2-2 by giving up the Wilson double.

The Woodies go on a six-game road trip that begins with three games in Salem on Friday and three games in Wilmington on Monday. After an off-day on Thursday, Aug. 23, the DEWDs will open a three-game homestand against Myrtle Beach a day later.