On Sunday afternoon, the Chillicothe Mudcats played for the fifth day in a row, making their first trip to Jefferson City to take on the Renegades. Down 6-3 in the eighth, the Mudcats scored 6 runs with the help of 6 hits, and held on to win their fourth straight game 11-8. Jarian Pinckney went 3-for-5 including a home run, and Koby Linder got the save three days after a 96-pitch outing.
It was the second day in a row Chillicothe went down multiple runs in the first inning. The Renegades scored three times in the opening inning, and held off the Mudcats without a hit until the fourth. That came in the form of Tanner Sears’ third double of the season, then Brock Falor drove him in to make it 3-1.
During that part of the game, Jefferson City’s offense responded anytime Chillicothe scored. They countered with one in the fourth, and after the Mudcats brought home two in the sixth, the Renegades came right back with two in the bottom of the inning.
Trailing 6-3 at the start of the seventh, a leadoff walk to John Spoto brought up Pinckney. He smashed a ball deep into the air to left field, where it sailed over the wall for his first home run. His three hits and three runs batted in on the day were both season-highs.
Johanno Perdomo held off Jefferson City to preserve the one-run deficit, before Chillicothe’s offensive onslaught. They began the eighth with five straight singles. Spoto drove in the tying run, Pinckney the winning run. The first seven batters of the inning reached base, and it ended with the Mudcats ahead 11-7.
The Renegades scored a leadoff walk in the eighth, and had the bases loaded with no out off an error and two hit batters in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate. That led to Chillicothe calling on Linder, just three days after throwing 96 pitches against Sedalia.
He looked no worse for wear, retiring all three men that he faced, including striking out the final two, for his first save of the season. The Mudcats 11 runs and 12 hits were both their most in a game this year. Also, their four errors defensively were a season-high. All four were made in the final four innings.
Before this win streak began, the Mudcats were 0-5 in the M.I.N.K. Now, they are 4-5 and all the way up to fourth place. The team is off on Monday before the start of a four.-game homestand against Nevada, St. Joseph, Jefferson City, and Sedalia.
Winning Pitcher: Johanno Perdomo (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Connor Head (0-1)
Save: Koby Linder (1)
Time of Game: 3:07
