CarL1 Down East Wood Ducks

July 4 Game Information

Published on July 4, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release


The Wood Ducks (7-7, 57-27) hit the road for six games, beginning today in Salem, when they face the Red Sox (10-4, 35-46) at 3:05 p.m. Right-hander Josh Advocate (3-2, 3.07) will take the mound for Down East, opposed by Red Sox lefty Emmanuel De Jesus (5-6, 3.81). The broadcast will begin at 2:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull, and online on 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps.

LAST TIME OUT: Zach Remillard tallied three hits in the ballgame for the Dash, including a go-ahead single in the tenth inning, to lift Winston-Sa-lem to a 2-1 win over the Wood Ducks. Sal Mendez battled through long at-bats early to work six innings allowing just one unearned run, while Jefferson Medina tossed three scoreless innings in relief. Curtis Terry enjoyed his firth multi-hit game, while Yohel Pozo's sac fly plated the lose run for Down East.

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 118 times in 29 games, including a season high nine walks worked last Sunday against Salem, and now rank third in the Carolina League in free passes.

TERRY ON A TEAR: Curtis Terry has hit safely in each of his last ten ballgames, giving him the longest hitting streak of any Wood Duck this season, despite only 13 games played. Terry has gone 15-36 (.417) over that stretch, which includes five doubles, a home run, and five RBI. After starting 0-for-10 Terry now is batting .326 with an OPS of .885.

POZO PROVIDES THE PUNCH: Yohel Pozo doubled and homered against the Dash on Tuesday, and has now hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 10-for-32 (.313) over that stretch, with two home runs and eight RBI. 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, and the Quad City River Bandits of the Midwest League. Down East's team ERA of 2.64 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 51-20 in the first inning of play. The Wood Ducks have scored first in 56 of their 84 game this season, go-ing 45-11 (.804). Down East has scored first in 25 of their last 33 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 15 of his last 18 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 247-185 .572

2. TEXAS RANGERS 238-181 .568

3. Pittsburgh Pirates 237-190 .555

SHOWTIME: Former Wood Duck Locke St. John made his MLB debut for the Rangers June 25th 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 4, 2019


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