SL1 Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Fall in Sixth Longest Game in Franchise History

Published on July 31, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Zebulon, NC --- In the sixth longest game in franchise history, the Carolina Mudcats dropped a 9-8, 4-hour, 35-minute game as the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts capitalized on a dropped flyball to win the game before 5,380 fans at Five County Stadium on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The game, which was delayed 1-hour, 4-minutes because of rain before the first pitch, ended at 12:54 AM Saturday morning when Jason Bour grounded out to second as the last remaining batter on manager David Bell's bench.

Chattanooa (19-16) took its only lead in the top of the 12th thanks to a flyball that was dropped by right fielder Stephen Chapman to start the inning. Juan Gonzalez, who attempted to bunt on the first pitch from Joe Krebs (L, 0-1), then singled to right-center on the next with Russ Mitchell running. Mitchell took third on the hit, and then after a shallow flyout, scored on a single by Tommy Giles that just eluded the glove of second baseman Todd Frazier, who was pulled in on the grass.

Carolina (14-21) fell five games behind the Lookouts in the Northern Division, ending the season-series 12-14 against the Lookouts. The Mudcats blew a 5-0 first inning lead en route to dropping the series 3-2.

In the first, Juan Francisco and Chris Denove each connected for two-run singles to highlight a five-run frame against Alberto Bastardo. However, the Lookouts chipped away at the deficit before tying the game in the sixth inning. The Mudcats forged back ahead on a sacrifice fly by Shaun Cumberland in the sixth, only to witness the Lookouts tying the game in the seventh on a single by Russ Mitchell.

The Mudcats narrowly missed winning the game in the last of the 11th, but were denied when Mitchell made a leaping backhand stop of a chopper hit by Chris Denove with Carson Kainer at third base. Kainer broke on contact and was thrown out by a pinpoint toss from Mitchell to catcher Lucas May.

The Mudcats embark on a 10-game, 11-day road trip on Saturday night at second-place Tennessee, which is a game behind Chattanooga. Lee Tabor (1-2, 3.13) starts the opener against the Smokies at 7:15 PM ET.

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Southern League Stories from July 31, 2009


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