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Carolina Mudcats

Garcia and Peterson Both Homer in 6-4 Loss

April 23, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


ZEBULON, NC - Carolina's Andrew Thurman allowed six earned runs on eight hits over the first three innings of Thursday's game against the Red Sox and the Mudcats dropped game one of a four game home stand 6-4 at Five County Stadium.

Thurman (1-2, 4.50) allowed four runs and four hits in the first, a run and two hits in the second, and finally a run on two more hits in the third. The Red Sox (6-7) led 6-1 after the third and held off a mid-game Carolina (6-7) comeback bid after bringing in reliever Joe Gunkel out of the bullpen.

Gunkel (1-0, 1.69) entered and retired the first batter he faced in the fifth. He then went on to retire the next twelve batters that followed in consecutive order. He retired 13 straight to finish the game and earned the victory after relieving starter Trey Ball.

Ball started the game and allowed two home runs, four hits and four runs over four and 2/3 innings. He allowed a second inning home run to Eric Garcia and a three run home run to Dustin Peterson in the fifth. Peterson's home run knocked Ball out of the game and brought Gunkel in.

Garica's home run was his first of the season and the first hit in the game for the Mudcats. He was 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI in the loss.

Peterson's home run cut the Salem lead to 6-4 in the fifth and was also his first of the season. It was a three-run blast to left and came with two outs in the inning. Peterson was 1-for-4 with three RBI for the Mudcats in the game one loss.

Manuel Margot led off the game with a single off Thurman to jump start the Red Sox offense. Margot scored later in the inning on a two-out, two-run single from Jake Romanski and the Red Sox took a 2-0 lead. Tzu-Wei Lin also had a two-out, two-run hit in the first. His single brought in Romanski and Wendell Rijo and the Red Sox moved out in front 4-0 after one inning.

Cole Sturgeon added one more run in the second with a solo home run to right and a two-out RBI double from Jordan Betts scored the sixth Red Sox run in the third.

Thurman settled in after the rocky first third of the game and would stay in through the fifth. He allowed nine total hits, but just one after the third inning while taking the loss. He walked two and struck out three in the start.

The Mudcats used lefty Andy Otero and right-hander Tyler Jones out of the bullpen to finish out the game. Otero held the Red Sox to just two hits and without a run over three full innings. Jones, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless ninth and allowed just one hit.

The loss was Carolina's third straight and dropped them below .500 for the first time since their opening night, no-hit, loss to the Red Sox.

The series continues on Friday night with right-hander Steve Janas starting for the Mudcats against Salem's Teddy Stankiewicz. Janas is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA over two starts this season. Both of his starts to begin the year have come against the Red Sox. The first pitch from Five County Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday night.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The 2015 "Braves New World" season is the first for the Mudcats as an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and their fourth straight in the historic Carolina League. First established in 1991, the Carolina Mudcats are entering their 25th straight season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. Fans can purchase tickets or find more information by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

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