SL1 Carolina Mudcats

Cats Fall to West Tenn

Published on August 6, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Jackson, TN --- A six-run first inning proved to be enough for West Tenn, as the Diamond Jaxx staved off the Carolina Mudcats 7-4 in the series opener at Pringles Park on Thursday night.

The first five West Tenn batters reached against Mudcats starter Luis Montano (L, 0-2) in the inning, with three soft singles followed by a pair of walks to force in the first two runs. After a sacrifice fly, former NC State Wolfpack infielder Matt Mangini hit a three-run homer to right-center to boost the early lead to 6-0.

After that outburst, Montano tossed four scoreless innings at West Tenn, giving the Mudcats (15-26) a chance to rally. Danny Christensen (W, 1-6), who had not won a game since August 21, 2008 in the Eastern League, pitched five scoreless innings, scattering seven hits in those frames, was finally touched for three runs in the sixth. Todd Frazier doubled home Zack Cozart, then Shaun Cumberland drilled his second homer in the last two weeks to slice the deficit to 6-3.

Montano surrendered one last run in the bottom of the sixth, then hoped from the dugout as Carolina started rallies in the final three innings. Juan Francisco, who had three opposite-field hits in the game, singled home Cozart in the seventh to draw the Mudcats to within 7-4, but Cumberland fanned with the bases loaded later in the inning to close out the inning.

Anthony Varvaro (S, 6) then danced around control problems to earn a seven out save. Varvaro faced 12 hitters, walking five of them, but threw just enough strikes to nail down the win. Varvaro walked two with two outs in the eighth before inducing a flyout from Cozart to end the inning. Then in the ninth, Varvaro interspersed walks to two of the first four batters he faced before Jason Bour flew out to end the game as the tying run.

Carolina stranded 13 baserunners in the game, 10 of which were left in the game's final five innings.

The Mudcats fell eight games behind first place Chattanooga with 29 remaining in the second half, and 1-5 on its current 10-game roadtrip.

Zach Ward (0-1, 18.00) starts Friday night against West Tenn's Luis Munoz (4-6, 4.48) at 8:05 PM ET.

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Southern League Stories from August 6, 2009


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