Carolina Overtakes 1st Place; Down Diamond Jaxx 8-3
July 31, 2005 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
Jackson, TN --- Not even the appearance of Nomar Garciaparra could slow down the Carolina Mudcats, who reeled off their third straight win in surmounting the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx for sole possession of first place in the North with an 8-3 win on Saturday night at Pringles Park.
Garciaparra delivered the Diamond Jaxx' first hit against Mudcats pitching in 13 2/3 innings with a fourth inning bloop hit, but Adam Bostick (W, 3-1) was plenty solid en route to his third Double-A win in four starts. Bostick checked the Jaxx hitless over the first three innings one night after Nic Ungs no-hit West Tenn during a 2-0 win. Bostick permitted two runs in the fourth and then a solo homer to league-leader Brandon Sing in the sixth before being relieved.
Carolina (21-12) assumed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first against Ryan O'Malley, then added three additional runs in the second to storm to a 6-0 lead after two innings. Jason Hill hit a solo homer in the first, then Jeremy Hermida doubled in two in the second to highlight the early offense.
Leading 6-3 in the eighth, pinch-hitter Chris Bass doubled to deep right with two outs to score a pair to put the game out of reach.
Jerrod Fuell relieved Bostick with the bases loaded in the sixth, facing Matt Creighton as the leading run, but Fuell struck Creighton out. After a perfect seventh inning, Chris Resop replaced Fuell for two scoreless innings.
The Mudcats moved one game ahead of the first-half champion Diamond Jaxx (21-14) with the win, and can sweep the three-game series on Sunday afternoon in the final regular season meeting. Carolina leads the season set 7-5.
Garciaparra, who has been out with a ruptured tendon in his groin since April 20th for the Chicago Cubs, went 1-4 with a run scored and two strong defensive plays at shortstop before leaving the game after the seventh inning as scheduled. Garciaparra, who will start for West Tenn again on Sunday, could be activated by the Cubs as early as this upcoming Friday ahead of a series at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets.
Yorman Bazardo (8-6, 3.79) starts for Carolina while West Tenn counters with Reynel Pinto (6-2, 2.14) at 2:05 PM ET.
Southern League Stories from July 31, 2005
- Smokies fight off Braves in extra innings, win 6-4 - Knoxville Smokies
- Braves fall to Smokies in ten - Mississippi Braves
- Suns bitten by BayBears, 6-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Suns suffer second shutout of the season against the BayBears, 6-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- BayBears beat Suns - Mobile BayBears
- Garciaparra to extend rehab appearance with Diamon Jaxx - Jackson Generals
- Diamond Jaxx in a tie for first place in the Northern Division with the Mudcats - Jackson Generals
- Olsen to DL, Flury moves in - Carolina Mudcats
- Carolina Overtakes 1st Place; Down Diamond Jaxx 8-3 - Carolina Mudcats
- Velazquez promoted to Mississippi - Mississippi Braves
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