Despite their best efforts, the Chillicothe Mudcats couldn’t secure a victory against their division rival, the St. Joseph Mustangs, as they fell 5-4 in a closely contested game on Monday night at Phil Welch Stadium. RHP Karter Muck, facing the Mustangs for the fourth time this season, had a rocky start in the first inning but quickly found his rhythm. After striking out the final batter in the first, he went on to strike out the next five batters, totaling six consecutive strikeouts. Muck’s final line for the game was five innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits, and striking out a season-high eleven batters.
The Mudcats’ offense struggled to get going until the fifth inning when Center Fielder Noah Hata scored on a routine fly ball hit by Nathan MacLaren. Hata took advantage of the defense’s lapse and surprised them by coming in to score their first run. In the seventh inning, with the score now 4-1 in favor of the Mustangs, Chillicothe’s offense came alive. Third Baseman Tanner Sears drove in a run and right fielder Kodai Yaoita also contributed with an RBI, narrowing the deficit to 4-3. Sears’ 31 RBIs lead the MINK League.
Although the Mustangs added one more run, the Mudcats had a chance to tie the game in the ninth inning. MacLaren drew a walk, stole a base, and scored on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 5-4. After Guzman reached on a walk, Catcher Zack Thompson came up to bat with the tying run at third base (Yaoita) and Guzman on first. However, Thompson’s deep fly ball to left field ended the game with a final score of 5-4 in favor of the Mustangs.
This loss marked the Mudcats’ first against the Mustangs this season, leaving them with a 3-1 record against their division rivals. Overall, the Mudcats currently hold the third-place position with a 15-15 record, trailing St. Joseph by three games.
The Mudcats will enjoy three consecutive days off before returning home on Friday night for a doubleheader against the Joplin Outlaws. The first game is scheduled to begin at 5:05 PM.
MINK League Scoreboard for Monday, July 3, 2023:
St. Joseph 5, Chillicothe 4
Joplin 8, Nevada 7
Sedalia 11, Clarinda 1
Des Moines 9, Carroll 2
MINK League Schedule for Tuesday, July 4, 2023:
Nevada at Joplin – 2:00 PM
Des Moines at Carroll – 4:00 PM
Sedalia at St. Joseph – 7:00 PM
