SL1 Carolina Mudcats

Boscon's Slam-Single Forces Title Game Finale

Published on September 13, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Pearl, MS --- JC Boscon, whose 10th-inning double won the opening game of the Southern League Championship Series, cracked a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 13th to lift the Mississippi Braves to a 6-5 victory over the Carolina Mudcats in Game Four, evening the series 2-2 and forcing Game Five Saturday night for the title.

Boscon took out Carolina reliever Jarrett Santos with one out in the 13th after pinch-hitter Quentin Davis hit a bases-loaded grounder to short to force out pinch-runner Robert Marcial at the plate. Kala Ka'aihue doubled off of the centerfield wall to begin the inning, followed by a soft chopper by Jordan Schafer off of home plate for an infield single, puching Marcial to third. An intentional walk filled the bases before Davis' grounder to Manuel Mayorson. Boscon drove a Santos pitch over Cameron Maybin's head in centerfield, and ultimately cleared the wall for a grand slam, but Boscon was mobbed by his teammates after rounding first, he never completed the tour of the bases, and was credited officially with a game-winning single.

The Mudcats, vying for their third Southern League title, battled back in a game dripping with drama and were two outs away from the title in the 11th. Right fielder Scott Cousins hit a two-strike pitch from Braves closer Luis Valdez in the top of the 11th over the left-centerfield wall to give Carolina its first lead of the game at 5-4. However, record-setting closer Chris Mobley surrendered a tying blast with one out in the 11th to Schafer, which hiked over the left field wall by two feet, and the Mudcats would not have a better chance to win Game Four..

Starting pitcher Graham Taylor, who had all of five career Double-A starts under his belt, had not pitched in a post-season game this season, and showed rust in the first inning. Taylor worked three three-ball counts to the first three hitters, and allowed a three-run homer to Ka'aihue to put Carolina in an immediate hole.

However, veteran Mudcat third baseman Lee Mitchell drilled a game-tying home run in the second against Braves starter Kris Medlen.

The Braves reclaimed the lead in the third against Taylor on a two-out single by Javier Guzman, and the Mudcats waited until the eighth to force a 4-4 tie. Maybin hit a deep drive to centerfield, landing the Steve Marek pitch on the warning track, and bouncing it over the wall for a ground-rule double to score Mayorson to even the game.

The Mudcats, which won their last Southern League title in 2003 in a Game Five epic with Huntsville, will endeavor to match history five years ago on Saturday night at 8:05 PM ET. Game One starter and leading pitching staff winner Willie Glen (9-4, 2.01) will get the call in the decisive game against Johnny Venters for Mississippi. Venters appeared in just three games for the Braves this season (1-0, 1.00).

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Southern League Stories from September 13, 2008


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