Saturday, June 4, 2005

 

W 4-2

 

Zebulon, NC --- Before a live crowd of 6,203, the Carolina Mudcats outpointed the first-place West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 4-2 in a series opener of minor league baseball's heavyweights at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.

 

 

 

The Diamond Jaxx (38-18) entered the game with the best record out of the minors' 120 full-season clubs, while Carolina (37-18) had the minors' third best mark. However, matched in the same division of the Southern League, with 15 games to play, one of these teams will not win the first half title.

 

 

 

Jason Hill connected on the first pitch from reliever John Searles to snap a 2-2 tie in the eighth with a two-run homer for a 4-2 Carolina lead. Chris Resop (S, 14) notched his league-best 14th save with a perfect ninth inning.

 

 

 

With the victory, Carolina's first in four tries against West Tenn this season, the Mudcats are within 1/2 game of the Diamond Jaxx in the Northern Division with 14 remaining. The surging Mudcats have won 10 of their last 12 games.

 

 

 

A pair of top starting pitchers opposed each other with David Aardsma pitching against the Mudcats Scott Olsen. Olsen entered the year as the Marlins' top minor league pitcher, while Aardsma zoomed to the major leagues with San Francisco just 10 months after being drafted in the first round from Rice University. Aardsma was acquired by the Chicago Cubs last week in a deal for LaTroy Hawkins with the Giants.

 

 

 

West Tenn managed just one run in the second against Olsen when presented a bases loaded, one-out chance. A sacrifice fly by Jose Reyes brought home Casey McGhee.

 

 

 

In the Carolina second, Aardsma allowed the tying run to score without a hit. Jeremy Hermida, who walked three times and was hit once to preserve an eight-game hitting streak, walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hermida scampered to third after third baseman McGhee made his throw to first on a groundball by Drew Niles. Hermida scored on a grounder to second by JC Muniz to tie the game.

 

 

 

In the fifth, right fielder Brandon Sing stole away an extra base hit from Frank Moore that would have snapped the tie, racing to his right and in full stretch, reeled in Moore's drive. Chris Bass, running from first on the delivery, was doubled up.

 

 

 

Carolina went ahead 2-1 in the sixth on a Niles sacrifice fly to bring home Robert Andino. Hill, who also singled in the inning, was tossed out at home plate on Muniz's single to left on a throw from Matt Murton.

 

 

 

West Tenn managed just the tying run against Olsen in his final frame, putting runners at second and third with none out. Richard Lewis, the Southern League's MVP last season, hit a low liner to third, knocked down by Bass, and converted to an out at first base, holding the runners. Jose Reyes chopped a pitch over the mound for a groundout as McGhee scored to tie the game. Pinch-hitter Buck Coats, batting for Aardsma, watched two sliders scooped by Hill behind the plate to keep Matt Craig at third base before he fanned to end the inning.

 

 

 

With the game tied 2-2 in the eighth, Eric Reed was hit by reliever John Searles on a 1-2 pitch, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Reyes. After Andino struck out, Hill drilled the first pitch for a two-run homer against the netting below the linescore in left field.

 

 

 

Kevin Cave (W, 3-1), pitching for the first time since being hit in the right shin by a Norris Hopper liner against the Lookouts earlier in the homestand, worked a perfect eighth inning to earn the win.

 

 

 

Olsen matched his season high with nine strikeouts in seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs and walking one. Aardsma allowed two runs on five hits over six innings, walking three and striking out two.

 

 

 

Carolina can move into sole possession of first place for the first time since May 6th with a win on Sunday. Luke Lockwood (2-0, 2.89) starts for Carolina against Jae Kuk-Ryu (5-2, 3.39) at 4:00 PM ET.

 

 

 

WEST TENN 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 --- 2 6 1 4

 

CAROLINA 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 x --- 4 7 0 6

 

 

 

WP - Cave (3-1)

 

LP - Searles (2-1)

 

S - Resop (14)

 

 

 

HR - Hill (7)

 

 

 

Time: 2:37

 

Att: 6,203

I like Hermida's line for the night. 0-0 with 3 walks and hit by a pitch.

A terrific game between the top two teams in minor league baseball.....great pitching...timely hits...and great job in relief by Cave and Resop......this is what it is all about :thumbup

Now they are up by 1/2 game.....two more at home with West Tenn.....Mudcats are playing with alot of confidence right now...they are not now nor have they ever been intimidated by any team in the Southern League...

good game mudcats!!! :thumbup

Cave has pitched very well this year. We have a lot of arms up there.

At least we have something to cheer for. Aardsma wanted no piece of Hermida.

Hermida leads the minors in walks.