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Carolina Mudcats

Huntsville beats Carolina

April 23, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Zebulon, NC --- Run-scoring groundouts in the first and second inning held up for Huntsville as the Stars edged Carolina 2-1 at Five County Stadium before 2,992 fans on Thursday night.

Mudcats starter James Avery (L, 0-2) was pressured from the start, gutting through four innings on 88 pitches, stranding eight baserunners, but constantly dodging the big hit to keep Carolina (6-8) in the game. Huntsville (7-7) put the first three hitters on in the first, but only managed one run on a soft grounder by Vinny Rottino. In the second, the Stars filled the bases with one out, but this time it was the Mudcats defense that saved Avery. Logan Parker smothered a grounder up the first base line as Yohannis Perez scored for a 2-1 lead. Rottino then drilled a grounder up the middle, but Zach Cozart made a diving stop and threw out Rottino to save two runs.

The Mudcats tied the game in the bottom of the first on a double by Chris Heisey and a Cozart single, but Carolina's offense mustered little else.

Both clubs lacked the clutch hit with Carolina going 1-10 with runners in scoring position, while the Stars were 1-11.

The game was played over a lethargic 3 1/2 hours, with both Avery and Huntsville's starter David Welch failing to last five innings. Avery permitted four hits and five walks over four frames. Meanwhile, Welch worked 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball on six hits and two walks.

Alexander Smit, Derrik Lutz and Sean Watson threw five innings of shutout ball from Carolina's bullpen, fanning seven.

Carolina's pitching staff walked eight hitters, but in a baseball anomaly, none scored.

Jose Castro, making just his third start of the season, filled in for Juan Francisco at third base, and went 3-3 with a walk to lead the Mudcats' nine-hit attack.

The decisive game of the series is scheduled for Friday night at 7:15 PM ET with Misael DeJesus (1-1, 11.05) starting opposite Mark Holliman (0-0, 4.66).

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