CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Swept by P-Nats

Published on August 3, 2014 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Zebulon, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats dropped both ends of a doubleheader against the Potomac Nationals on Sunday afternoon. The Mudcats (21-22, 50-60) were nearly no-hit in a 5-2 loss in game one and the Nationals (23-18, 61-49) completed the sweep with a 9-4 winning decision in the second.

The Mudcats have lost four straight and sit below .500 in the second half for the first time since June 27.

Hector Silvestre (1-0) shined for Potomac in the first game by taking a no-hitter into the seventh. Third baseman Yandy Diaz muscled a 3-2 pitch, with two out, off the high wall in right for a triple to ruin the bid. Silvestre finished after 6 2/3 innings and yielded two runs on four hits with one walk and a strikeout. Gilberto Mendez finished the game for his eighth save.

Adam Plutko (3-6) was hit for five runs and eight hits in the loss. He fanned five without allowing a walk.

The Nationals built a 5-0 lead behind Silvestre. Isaac Ballou cracked a solo home run off Plutko in the fourth and Khayyan Norfork singled home a run in the fifth. Consecutive doubles by Ballou and Tony Renda made it 3-0 in the sixth. Estarlin Martinez doubled around Norfork in the seventh and Ballou capped a three-hit performance with a run-scoring hit in the inning.

After easily dispatching the first two outs of the seventh, Silvestre and Diaz battled to fill the count. Diaz powered a fly ball off the wall in right and raced around the bases to third. Jeremy Lucas followed with his 10th home run of the season, a laser out to left. With the shutout gone, Silvestre continued to lose his touch, allowing back-to-back singles by Washington and Rodriguez.

Mendez relieved Silvestre, but promptly issued a walk to James Roberts that loaded the bases. The right-hander rebounded to retire Battaglia on a pop-up and preserve the win.

The Nationals scored all nine of their runs in the first three innings of game two and cruised to a 9-4 win. D.J. Brown (2-6) surrendered seven runs and seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings in the start. He walked two and recorded one strikeout. Dakote Bacus (4-6) earned the win despite allowing four runs on six hits across five innings.

Mike McQuillan capped a three-run first for Potomac with a two-run double and Shawn Pleffner singled in a pair as part of a four-run second.

Lucas smacked his second home run in as many games on another deep drive to left, but the Nationals responded with two more in the top of the third on a single by Ballou.

Jerrud Sabourin brought in two with a hit in the third and a groundout by Diaz moved Carolina within five, but the Nationals retired 15 consecutive hitters to finish the game.

The Mudcats travel to Frederick on Tuesday, August 5, to open a three-game series with the Keys. First pitch at Harry Grove Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Carolina hosts Myrtle Beach for a weekend series August 8-10. Fans can purchase tickets or find more information by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting carolinamudcats.com.

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Carolina League Stories from August 3, 2014


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