The Chillicothe Mudcats lose big to the Joplin Jailbirds on Friday evening at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Mo. in game two of a three-game series to close out the MINK League regular season.
The Jailbirds took a first inning lead when Jordan Tucker scored on a double play with the bases loaded, 1-0. Then, Drake Lee clubbed a two-run opposite field home run over the left field wall to make it 3-0.
The Mudcats got two runs in the top of the second to cut into the Jailbird lead. Max Heintz scored on a Canon Creason groundout to make it 3-1, then JP Gonzalez scored on an error from the Jailbird catcher, 3-2 Joplin.
In the bottom of the second, Drew Vonder Haar crushed a no-doubter over the left field wall to make it 4-2.
In the bottom of the third, Austin Marsh hit a ground-rule double to bring home Drake Lee and Landin Midgett to make it 6-2 Joplin.
In the top of the fourth, Max Heintz scored on a double into right-center field off the bat of JP Gonzalez, that made it 6-3.
However, a crushing blow to the Mudcats came from a seven run frame from the Jailbirds, an inning they sent 12 batters to the plate. 13-3 Joplin after the fourth.
Both the Mudcats and Jailbirds got a single run in their turns to bat in the sixth. It was 14-4 in favor of the Jailbirds after the sixth.
The Mudcats went down scoreless in the top of the seventh, and are run-ruled after seven innings by a final score of 14-4.
The Mudcats fall to 12-23 (12-22 MINK) on the season. However, the Mudcats have officially clinched fifth place in the MINK League over the North Missouri Natty’s today.
The Mudcats are back in Joplin on Saturday evening for the third and final game of the three-game series and the regular season finale. First pitch Saturday evening is at 7:00 p.m.