CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Barons Double Up Carolina, 8-4

Published on May 17, 2003 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Zebulon, NC --- Chad Durham doubled twice and drove in four runs to lead Birmingham by Carolina 8-4 at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.

Durham, who began the series with four RBI in 36 games, drove in his seventh runs in the three games with a pair of doubles and a single, handing the Barons (21-19) a 2-1 series edge over the East-leading Mudcats (26-15).

Todd Moser (L, 1-2, 3.1IP, 8H, 5ER, 2W, 4K) suffered the loss, lasting just 3 1/3 innings, his shortest Double-A start.

Carolina tied the Barons in the second on a RBI-double by Chris Ashby (3-4, 2B, RBI), however the Barons knocked Moser out of the game in the fourth with six straight hits and four runs for a 5-1 lead.. Carlos Maldonado singled in the tie-breaking run, followed by a pair of RBI-doubles by Danny Sandoval and Durham.

Birmingham increased the edge to 6-1 before Carolina began chipping away. Matt Padgett (3-5, R, RBI) singled in a two-out run against Tetsu Yofu (W, 3-1) in the sixth. Chris Aguila (1-4, RBI) smacked a deep sacrifice fly in the seventh against reliever Jeff Bajenaru, then the Mudcats loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but settled for just one run.

Up 6-4 in the ninth, Birmingham scored twice against Franklyn Gracesqui (ND, 2IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 2W, 1K) to open up a four-run lead for closer Royce Ring who recorded the final three outs.

Drew Niles (3-5, R, 2B) also had three hits for Carolina.

The series and season-series concludes Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM ET with Randy Messenger (2-3, 6.57) starting for Carolina against first-time lefty Beyong Hok-An, who will be called up from Winston-Salem for his Double-A debut.

Notes: The Orlando Rays will invade Five County Stadium Monday through Thursday, and they will bring LHP John Rocker with them. Rocker, who threw two innings against the Mudcats last week, was called up to the majors by Tampa Bay. However, after Friday night's appearance, Rocker was returned to the O-Rays for more work... Miguel Cabrera batted third in the lineup for the first time this season. Cabrera went 0-3, and began the night 4th of all minor league hitters with a .395 average, and had been Carolina's cleanup hitter every game of 2003.

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Carolina League Stories from May 17, 2003


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