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CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Start Second Half with 2-1 Edging of Pelicans

June 25, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


ZEBULON, NC - Carlos Franco and Connor Lien were both 2-for-4 with run scoring hits, Dave Peterson earned his sixth save of the season and Matt Marksberry improved to 3-1 as the Mudcats started the second half with a 2-1 win against Myrtle Beach on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.

Marksberry (BS, W, 3-1, 2.88) struck out one and allowed a run on three hits over one and 2/3 innings while earning the win out of the pen for the Mudcats (35-35, 1-0). He followed starter Brandon Barker who pitched five scoreless innings for Carolina against the visiting Pelicans (41-29, 0-1)

Franco drove in the first run of the game with a two-out, RBI double to left-center in the third. Franco and Jacob Schrader went back-to-back with the doubles in the inning off Myrtle Beach starter Tyler Skulina who pitched through the third with one run and four hits allowed.

Fernando Cruz followed Skulina out of the pen and went on to pitch the next two innings without allowing a run. Cruz pitched the beginning of the fifth and allowed two hits before the game was delayed :42 minutes due to rain. He came back out for the end of the fifth after the delay and ended up leaving the bases loaded.

The delay, however, knocked Barker out of the game. He finished his near quality start with just two hits allowed over five scoreless innings. Barker struck out two, walked one and threw 75 pitches before leaving the game.

Marksberry followed Barker out of the Carolina bullpen and allowed three hits and one run in the sixth inning. The first two hits off Marksberry in the sixth were infield singles. The third, however, was a RBI line drive single to right by Chesny Young. The hit tied the game at 1-1 and Marksberry was charged with a blown save while also earning the win.

Carolina took the lead again in the sixth after Johan Camargo singled to start the inning and later scored on a two-out RBI single by Lien. Lien's single came off Juan Paniagua (L, 3-2, 2.86) after he came in for the sixth. Paniagua pitched two innings and allowed a run on three hits while taking the loss.

The Mudcats scored two, two-out runs in the victory, but were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They also left 11 men on base, but also stranded eight Pelicans on base while holding Myrtle Beach to just one hit over seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Marksberry allowed a run, but stranded runners at second and third in the sixth. Caleb Dirks relieved him in the seventh and left a man at second while striking out Trey Martin to end the threat. Dirks also pitched a scoreless eighth before giving way to Peterson (S, 6) who finished the game with two left on and two strikeouts in the ninth. Peterson struck out Martin on three pitches to end the game.

The Mudcats and Pelicans continue their series with game two of three on Friday night at Five County Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Zebulon and will be thrown by Mudcats' probable starter LHP Blair Walters. The Pelicans are scheduled to counter with RHP Duane Underwood Jr. making his first start of the second half.

All games air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, Rock City 99.3 FM and Sports 1490 AM. Games are also streamed online at www.carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio app. TuneIn Radio is the official digital audio partner of MiLB.com.

Individual tickets are now available online at www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium box office.

Premium Field Level seats are $12.00, Box Seats are $10.00 and Cattail Skybox Seats are $15.00. Full season ticket packages, half season ticket packages, group tickets and the "Muddy Unreal Deal" plan are also currently available for purchase.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The 2015 "Braves New World" season is the first for the Mudcats as an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and their fourth straight in the historic Carolina League. First established in 1991, the Carolina Mudcats are entering their 25th straight season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. Fans can purchase tickets or find more information by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 25, 2015


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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