SL1 Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Lose a Close One

Published on June 28, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Chattanooga, TN ---- After a pair of two-run homers by Carolina rallied the Mudcats to an eighth inning lead, Chattanooga scored four times in the last of the eighth to steal away the opener of a six-game series at AT&T Field 6-5 on Sunday night.

Carolina (1-6) trailed 2-0 into the seventh, but finally broke through against JD Durbin to tie the score. Durbin, who was making just his second start of the season, carried a four-hit shutout into the inning before walking Juan Francisco on four pitches, then saw Todd Frazier cream a 1-2 fastball over the left field wall to tie the game 2-2.

After Travis Wood shut down the Lookouts (3-4) in the bottom half, Carolina rode a two-run homer by Sean Henry for the lead. Henry's ninth homer curved inside the left field foul pole to put the Mudcats up 4-2. The next pitch from reliever Jesus Rodriguez was thrown over the head of Michael Griffin, which resulted in Rodriguez's ejection. The Mudcats added an insurance run against Javy Guerra when Griffin doubled and scored on an error by shortstop Justin Sellers, mishandling a hard grounder by Juan Francisco.

However, leading 5-2, and putting Wood in line for a franchise record ninth consecutive win, Sean Watson (L, 1-4) surrendered four runs on five hits in the bottom of the eight. Four of the first five Lookout hitters collected hits on first pitches from Watson. The inning began with a double to center by Adam Godwin, with Ramon Nivar looping a single to left-center. After a popout, Andrew Lambo doubled over Griffin's head in right field to score two. Russell Mitchell took the next pitch off of the right-centerfield warning track to tie the game. After Watson retired Tommy Giles, Gabriel Gutierrez singled to right, allowing Mitchell to use a wrap-around slide to beat Korey Feiner's tag for a 6-5 Lookouts lead.

Guerra (W, 1-0) worked a perfect ninth to close out the victory.

Wood worked seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs, fanning four and walking one. He is currently tied with Donnie Bridges from 2003, as both won eight consecutive decisions. Chattanooga scored twice in the second inning off of Wood, who then shut down the Lookouts the remainder of his outing.

Camilo Vazquez starts Monday night at 7:15 PM ET against Jesus Castillo from AT&T Field.

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Southern League Stories from June 28, 2009


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