Mudcats Remain Alive with 5-2 Victory
August 23, 2011 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
Zebulon, NC-- The Carolina Mudcats kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 5-2 win over the Jacksonville Suns on Tuesday night in front of 2,832 fans.
Mudcats pitcher Justin Lehr had a no-hitter going into the 6th inning at Five County Stadium before Chris Gutierrez led off the top of the inning with a soft single to right field. Lehr led off the game with a leadoff walk to Suns batter Kevin Mattison before retiring 15 straight batters.
Neftali Soto gave Lehr the early lead, hitting his 27th home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center field in the bottom of the first that gave the Mudcats a 2-1 lead. The Mudcats would add two more in the fifth inning off Suns pitcher Brad Hand, when Gregorius singled to lead off the inning and then moved to third following Rojas' single to right. Quintin Berry picked up his 40th and 41st RBIs of the season, knocking in Gregorius and Rojas on a sharp ground ball to center.
Justin Freeman came in to the game in relief to start the 8th giving up a walk before striking out Luke Montz to end the inning. The Mudcats would add an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th inning before pitcher Donnie Joseph came in to close out the game and earn his seventh save of the season.
Justin Lehr earns his first win with the Mudcats this season and is now 1-1 on the season with a 4.26 ERA. Suns pitcher Brad Hand gets the loss and falls to 10-4 on the season with a 3.58 ERA.
The Mudcats can look to win the series tomorrow against the Jacksonville Suns at Five County Stadium at 7:15pm when Pedro Villareal (6-3, 4.71) takes the mound against Suns pitcher Jose Alvarez (2-4, 5.51).
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