CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

BayBears Shut Down Carolina, 2-0

Published on May 13, 2003 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Mobile, AL --- Cory Stewart and two Mobile relievers combined on a three-hit shutout as the BayBears avoided a four-game sweep by the Carolina Mudcats, winning 2-0 on Tuesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.

Stewart (W, 4-2), who won his fourth straight decision, fanned seven over seven innings to lead the BayBears to their only win in the series.

Rico Washington (HR, 5) hit a solo homer in the first inning against Carolina starter Donnie Bridges (L, 2-1, 5.1IP, 7H, 2R, 1ER, 0W, 4K) to give the BayBears (15-22) the only lead they would need to win. Bridges allowed an unearned run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Humberto Quintero to boost the lead to 2-0. Vince Faison scored on the flyball after reaching on a one-out single. Faison stole second, then advanced to third on a wild throw by catcher Ryan Jorgensen (0-2, W, K).

Bridges worked 5 1/3 innings, littering seven hits, walking none and striking out four. Franklyn Gracesqui (ND, 2IP, 0H, 0ER, 3W, 2K, 1WP) worked two laborious innings, making 60 pitches, walking three without permitting a hit and fanning two. His appearance culminated with a 14-pitch crusade against Quintero, finally resulting in a lineout to Chip Ambres (0-2, W) in centerfield.

Miguel Cabrera (2-4, 2B) doubled with two outs in the fourth for Carolina's first hit, then legged out an infield single in the ninth. Wilson Valdez (1-4, K) reached on an infield hit in the sixth for Carolina's other hit.

The loss for Carolina (25-13) was the first in seven games against the BayBears, who return to Five County Stadium late in June for a four-game set.

Power lefty Rusty Tucker worked the ninth for his 10th save, second in the league.

Carolina travels back to North Carolina overnight and opens an eight-game homestand Thursday night against the Birmingham Barons. Ryan Snare (2-0, 3.83) starts against Barons right-hander Enemencio Pacheco (3-0, 1.37) at 7:15 PM ET.

Notes: Carolina's 15-day, 12-game road trip covered nearly 2,000 miles, finished 6-6, and saw its Eastern Division lead shrink from 2 1/2 games to one over the Tennessee Smokies during the voyage... Drew Niles saw his second-longest hitting streak of his career snapped with his only at-bat on Tuesday. Niles grounded to third in the ninth inning, breaking his streak at seven, one short of matching his career high. Niles entered in the bottom of the eighth inning on a double-switch with reliever Ryan Baker... Carolina, now 6-1 against the BayBears, has never swept a regular-season series against any Southern League opponent. The Mudcats have yet to play Huntsville and Tennessee in 2003.... Former Mudcat Jason Young made his major league debut for the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, working five innings at Coors Field against the New York Mets, allowing five runs, two homers and taking the loss. Young is the fourth ex-Mudcat to make his debut in 2003, joining Dontrelle Willis (2003), Todd Sears (2000) and Jody Gerut (2000). Willis made his debut with the Florida Marlins last Friday, Sears with Minnesota and Gerut with the Cleveland Indians.

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Carolina League Stories from May 13, 2003


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