Following a two-day layoff after their first game of the season, the Chillicothe Mudcats dropped their second straight to begin the year, a 9-2 defeat Monday night at Shaffer Park to the Jefferson City Renegades. After walking 16 times in an 11-inning loss Sunday, Jefferson City patiently accepted 10 more walks from Mudcat pitching in the blowout.
Chillicothe native Max Wagers made his first start of the year pitching for the Mudcats, and got through five innings allowing three runs. He walked four, but stranded a total of six base runners. Wagers was sent out in the fifth trying to qualify for the win protecting a 2-1 lead, but issued walks to the first two batters and would allow them both to score. It gave the Renegades a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.
The Mudcats offense, which was sparked by a two-run single by Chris Carratala in his first at-bat of the summer in the second inning, stalled from then on. In the final seven innings of the game, the lineup mustered one single hit.
After Jefferson City fireballer Canon Feist struck out the Mudcats side in the fifth, Chillicothe made a move to the bullpen for the sixth with Joshua Rego. In his first outing this season, the Hawaii Pacific freshman surrendered five runs. A leadoff walk and back to back doubles got the Renegades started at the bottom of their order, and Rego retired only one of the six batters he faced.
Johanno Perdomo came in to finish the inning, but the damage had been done. The six-run inning brought 11 Renegades to the plate, and ended with the visitors in front 9-2.
The Mudcats offensive struggles ensured that result held, which dropped them to 0-2 to begin the season. Jefferson City meanwhile improves to 2-1 in league play. Chillicothe is scheduled to play Tuesday night at home against Clarinda, but weather may push their next game to Thursday night at Sedalia.
Winning Pitcher: Canon Feist (1-0)
Losing Pitching: Max Wagers (0-1)
Time of Game: 2:58
