
June 30 Game Information
June 30, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release
The Wood Ducks (6-4, 56-24) go for a series win against the Hillcats (5-5, 37-40) today at 3 p.m. when they send right-hander Collin Wiles (1-0, 3.60) to the hill to face off with lefty Kirk McCarty (0-2, 7.00). The pregame show will begin at 2:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull, and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. Complete game notes are attached.
LAST TIME OUT: The Wood Ducks saw their five-game winning streak come to a close as they were walked off by Lynchburg's Tyler Freeman in the ninth inning. Curtis Terry reached base three times in the ballgame including a double, while Yohel Pozo drove in both runs with a double and a sac fly. Reid Anderson gave up one run over four innings in the start, while Cole Uvila matched a season-best three scoreless innings in relief, striking out three to force extras.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Wood Ducks 56-24 (.700) record is the second best in all of Minor League baseball, as is their +119 run differential, while their 33 road wins are the most in MiLB.
MERRY CLINCHMAS: The Wood Ducks will be heading to the Carolina League playoffs for the second time in three seasons. The Wood Ducks won a share of the Mills Cup in 2017 when they claimed the second half crown with a record of 38-32.
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 has now reached base safely in 28 consecutive games, becoming the fifth Wood Duck this year to tally a streak of 15 or more. Over that stretch Arias is batting .337 with an OBP of .472, including 23 walks. His streak is the longest by a Wood Duck this season, and longest active in the Carolina League.
KING OF THE HILL: John King has been outstanding for the Wood Ducks since being promoted on May 10. King picked up his second win for the Woodies this season downing the Mudcats on Wednesday. In the pro-cess, the lefty lowered his ERA to 1.07. He has only allowed more than one earned run in one appearance this year. He also boasts a K/BB ratio of 8.0 (8 BB/40 K). That mark leads the Carolina League (min. 40 IP).
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, in the moth of June the Woodies have walked 112 times in just 25 games, including a season high nine walks worked on Sunday against Salem.
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 eight 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 0.70 and a WHIP of 0.97.
FANTASTIC FIRSTS: The Wood Ducks have jumped out in front early and often this year, outscoring opponents 50-19 in the first inning of play. The Wood Ducks have scored first in 53 of their 80 game this season, going 44-9 (.830). Down East has scored first in 22 of their last 29 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 12 of his last 15 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. TEXAS RANGERS 224-166 .574
2. Tampa Bay Rays 228-171 .571
3. Pittsburgh Pirates 217-177 .551
LAY IT DOWN: The Wood Ducks have produced 31 bunt hits through the first 77 games of the season. Hasuan Viera tallied his first against the Red Sox, Saturday, while Yonny Hernandez leads the way with 11 bunt hits.
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 Josh Altmann and Franklin Rollin playing their first game for the Woodies on Wednesday there have now been 43 different players to suit up for Down East this year.
Carolina League Stories from June 30, 2019
- Adams Saves the Day, Smashes Grand Slam to Beat Pelicans - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Late Grand Slam Lifts Woodpeckers over Birds in Series Finale - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Carolina Collapses Late in 9-1 Loss to Potomac - Carolina Mudcats
- Wood Ducks Offense Kept Quiet, Forced To Settle For Series Split - Down East Wood Ducks
- McCarty, Bullpen Dominates as Hillcats Split Series with Down East - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Eighth Inning Rally Earns Dash Split with Red Sox - Winston-Salem Dash
- Late Offensive Explosion Lifts Potomac to Win over Mudcats - Potomac Nationals
- Carport, Escarra Slug Dingers in Win - Frederick Keys
- Salami Sinks Blue Crew in Frederick - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: June 30 at Fayetteville - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- June 30 Game Information - Down East Wood Ducks
- June 30 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (June 30 at Salem) - Winston-Salem Dash
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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