CarL1 Down East Wood Ducks

August 4 Game Information

Published on August 4, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release


Today the Wood Ducks (27-15, 77-35) go for the series sweep against the Keys (15-26, 44-66) at 1 p.m. when they send right-hander Noah Bremer (2-0, 2.83) to the mound to face off with Keys righty David Lebron (2-4, 3.57). It's Sunday Funday at Grainger Stadium presented by Cricket Wireless, featuring pregame autographs and postgame kids run the bases. The broadcast will begin at 12:50 p.m., on 960AM The Bull, and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio apps. For tickets and more information visit woodducksbaseball.com, or call (252) 686-5172. Complete game notes are attached.

LAST TIME OUT: After allowing a 5-0 lead to slip away, Yohel Pozo blasted a leadoff home run in the ninth inning to walk of the Keys, 6-5. All nine Wood Ducks had a hit in the contest, and five of the nine hits went for extra bases. Michael Matuella picked up the win, strik-ing out the side in the ninth inning to strand a pair in scoring position.

CLUTCH GENE: Yohel Pozo's walk-off home run was the Woodies 7th walk-off victory this season, and third walk-off homer. This season when the Wood Ducks are tied after eight innings, they have a 12-5 record, in addition to going 9-4 in extra innings and 28-13 in one-run contests.

STRIKING FIRST: The Wood Ducks have outscored opponents 66-30 in first innings this season, and have struck first in 71 of their 112 games this season, going 58-13 (.816) when scoring first on the year. Down East has also scored first in ten of their last 12 contests.

SUPER SAM: Sam Huff saw his 19-game hitting streak come to a close Friday, but he has now reached base in 21 straight contests. Over the stretch he has gone 24-72 (.333), with four home runs, and 9 RBI dating back to July 9. Huff's 19 game hitting streak was the second longest in the Carolina League this year, trailing only Wilbis Santiago (LYN) with 21.

TERRY ON A TEAR: Curtis Terry hit his sixth home run for the Woodies Wednesday against Carolina, and has now hit safely in 33 of his last 37 games, including 14 multi-hit games. He is now sporting a .958 OPS since joining Down East, June 21. Within that stretch was a 12-game hit streak (19-44, .432) which came to an end last Saturday, Terry now has 21 home runs on the season combined with his time in Hickory.

MAGNIFICENT MENDEZ: Sal Mendez has been excellent for the Wood Ducks this season, especially since joining the starting rotation. Mendez leads the Carolina League with a 2.03 ERA, and as a starter that mark is just 1.54. Seven of Mendez' 12 starts have been quality outings, and he has given up just four earned run in 30.2 innings (1.17 ERA) over five starts in July.

NO RUNS FOR YOU!: The Wood Ducks 1-0 win over the Mudcats, last Thursday, was their 17th shutout win of the season, and sixth 1-0 victory. Down East boasts a 2.69 team ERA this season which leads all of Minor League Baseball, while their 17 shutouts are second only to the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League. Since team ERA records began being kept in 2005, no MiLB team has finished a season with an ERA below 2.65.

KEYLESS ENTRY: The Wood Ducks are now 6-0 against the Frederick Keys, outscoring them, 27-12. Down East has posted a team ERA of 1.61 against Frederick this season, and has struck out 46, while walking just 11, over 56 innings of work. Three of the six wins have come in walk-off fashion, including two in extra-innings.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH: It hasn't just been the Wood Ducks who have performed well this season, the Rangers organization as a whole has been among the best

1. TEXAS RANGERS 362-271 .572

2. Tampa Bay Rays 377-292 .564

3. Arizona Diamondbacks 379-303 .556

COLE CRUISING: Cole Uvila struck out a career-high five batters in 2.2 perfect innings in relief, Tuesday against Carolina, and followed it up with another scoreless frame against the Keys, Saturday. This season Uvila boasts a 12.59 K/9 (62 K/44.1 IP), and has struck out three or more batters in 11 of his 28 appearances this season.

CUP OF JOE: Joe Kuzia has been tremendous out of the bullpen for the Wood Ducks since joining the club May 9. He has converted 17 of 18 save opportunities in addition to picking up a trio of wins in relief. Kuzia put together a 19-inning scoreless streak from 5/19-6/26. Overall this season he boasts an ERA of 0.96 and a WHIP of 1.10. Kuzia now ranks second in the Carolina League in saves, with all 17 coming since May 26. Kuzia has not allowed a run in 22 of his 26 appearances this season.

THE FUTURE IS HERE: Sam Huff clubbed a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of the SiriusXM Futures Game on Sunday to take home MVP honors. Huff becomes the second Ranger all-time to take home the award, joining Joey Gallo (2014). Huff followed it up by hitting a home run his first game back in Myrtle Beach, and clubbed another against Lynchburg, and one more against Winston-Salem two homestands ago. He has hit 25 home run overall on the year.

A HALF FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS: The Down East Wood Ducks became just the sixth team in Carolina League history to finish a half with a winning percentage of .700 or better, while their 50 wins are the second most in any half in league history:

1. 1980 Peninsula (1st) 51-19 .729

2. 2019 DOWN EAST (1st) 50-20 .714

T3. 1982 Peninsula (2nd) 49-20 .710

T3. 1983 Lynchburg (1st) 49-20 .710

5. 1994 Wilmington (1st) 48-20 .706

6. 1980 Peninsula (2nd) 49-21 .700

SHOWTIME: Former Wood Duck Emmanuel Clase was called up to the Rangers, Friday, and looks to become the ninth Down East player to make his Major League debut. He joins Ricardo Rodriguez ('17), C.D. Pel-ham ('18) and Peter Fairbanks ('19) to go from Advanced-A to the Majors in a single season. Clase struck out 11 and did not allow an earned run over seven innings with the Woodies.

RAGS AT THE HELM: Corey Ragsdale takes over as skipper for the Wood Ducks in 2019. Ragsdale will remain the Rangers Minor League Field Coordinator, while assuming a managerial seat for the first time since 2015, when he led the Hickory Crawdads to a South Atlantic League Championship, the second of his career.

Check out the Down East Wood Ducks Statistics

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