CarL1 Down East Wood Ducks

July 3 Game Information

Published on July 3, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release


The Woodies (7-6, 57-26) and Dash (5-8, 43-34) will play the rubber game of the three game series tonight at 7 p.m. when Down East sends lefty Sal Mendez (5-0, 2.42) to the hill to face off with Winston-Salem righty Jorgan Cavanerio (4-0, 3.65). The Wood Ducks will host their independence day celebration as they will wear their patriotic caps, and following the action will be the largest fireworks display of the season, presented by WNCT and Spirit AeroSystems. The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull, and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. For tickets and more information visit woodducksbaseball.com or call (252) 686-5172. Complete game notes are attached.

LAST TIME OUT: Yohel Pozo doubled and homered, but the Wood Ducks comeback effort fell short, losing 5-4 to the Dash. John King allowed a career-high five earned runs in the start and suffered his first loss of the season. JP Martinez and Sam Huff also had multi-hit games, while Scott Williams returned from the IL to throw two scoreless innings in relief.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Wood Ducks 57-26 (.687) record is the second best in all of Minor League baseball. Their +119 run differential is sec-ond, while their 33 road wins are the most in MiLB.

A HALF FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS: The Down East Wood Ducks became just the sixth team in Carolina League history to finish a half with a winning percentage of .700 or better, while their 50 wins are the second most in any half in league history:

1. 1980 Peninsula (1st) 51-19 .729

2. 2019 DOWN EAST (1st) 50-20 .714

T3. 1982 Peninsula (2nd) 49-20 .710

T3. 1983 Lynchburg (1st) 49-20 .710

5. 1994 Wilmington (1st) 48-20 .706

6. 1980 Peninsula (2nd) 49-21 .700

GOING STREAKING: DIOSBEL ARIAS saw his 30-game on base streak come to a close Tuesday, going 0-1 in a pinch hitting appearance. Throughout the streak (5/27-7/1) Arias batted .340 and reached base at a .466 clip. He also worked 23 walks over the 30 games. The streak is the longest for a Wood Duck this year, and third longest on the year in the Carolina league. Only Nolan Jones (LYN, 34) and Zach Remillard (WS, 31) have had longer on-base streaks this year.

WALK THIS WAY: The Wood Ducks have been increasingly patient at the plate as the year has worn on. They walked 89 times in 26 games in the month of April and 94 times in 29 games in May. However, since the month of June began the Woodies have walked 117 times in 28 games, including a season high nine walks worked last Sunday against Salem.

TERRY ON A TEAR: Curtis Terry has turned it on offensively, going 13-for-32 (.406), with a home run, five doubles, and five RBI since June 24. His nine-game hitting streak is the longest this season, while four of his last seven games have been multi-hit efforts. After starting 0-for-10 in the Carolina League, Terry has raised his average to .310 and now boasts an OPS of .875.

POZO PROVIDES THE PUNCH: Yohel Pozo doubled and homered against the Dash on Tuesday, and has now hit safely in eight consecutive games, going 10-for-29 (.345) over that stretch. Pozo has the lowest strikeout percentage on the team at just 8% on the year. This K% is also third lowest in the Carolina League (min. 200PA).

NO RUNS FOR YOU!: The Wood Ducks 2-0 shutout win over the Dash Monday was their 14th on the season, which is tied for the most in all of minor league baseball along with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League. Down East's team ERA of 2.68 is also the best in MiLB with only four teams sporting a mark below 3.00.

CUP OF JOE: Joe Kuzia has been tremendous out of the bullpen for the Wood Ducks since joining the club May 9. He has converted all nine save opportunities in addition to picking up a trio of wins in relief. Kuzia put together a 19-inning scoreless streak from 5/19-6/26. Overall this season he boasts an ERA of 0.66 and a WHIP of 0.99.

FANTASTIC FIRSTS: The Wood Ducks have jumped out in front early and often this year, outscoring opponents 51-19 in the first inning of play. The Wood Ducks have scored first in 56 of their 83 game this season, go-ing 45-11 (.804). Down East has scored first in 25 of their last 32 games.

JP's JUNE: JP Martinez has picked it up at the plate in the month of June, slashing .307/.402/.480 in 22 games played. In the process he has raised his batting average from .163 to .214. The outfielder has now hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH: It hasn't just been the Wood Ducks who have performed well this season, the Rangers organization as a whole has been among the best

1. Tampa Bay Rays 237-178 .571

2. TEXAS RANGERS 231-174 .570

3. Pittsburgh Pirates 230-181 .560

SHOWTIME: Former Wood Duck Locke St. John made his MLB debut for the Rangers Tuesday getting a groundout and a flyout to retire the only two batters he faced. St. John becomes the seventh Wood Duck in three years to make it to the show. He joins Ricardo Rodriguez, Jeffrey Springs, C.D. Pelham, and Brett Martin, Joe Palumbo, and Pete Fairbanks. Down East has also had a player go from Adv.-A to the majors in one year in each of the three seasons (Rodriguez-'17, Pelham-'18, Fairbanks-'19).

RAGS AT THE HELM: Corey Ragsdale takes over as skipper for the Wood Ducks in 2019. Ragsdale will remain the Rangers Minor League Field Coordinator, while assuming a managerial seat for the first time since 2015, when he led the Hickory Crawdads to a South Atlantic League Championship, the second of his career.

HI, NICE TO MEET YOU: Between promotions and injuries there has been a lot of turnover in the Wood Ducks roster this season. With Scott Williams making his return from injury in relief on Tuesday, the Wood Ducks have had 44 player suit up this season, including 25 different pitchers.

Check out the Down East Wood Ducks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from July 3, 2019


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