CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Orlando Dumps Carolina, 6-2

Published on May 7, 2003 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Orlando, FL --- Jon Switzer limited the Southern League's top offense to two hits over seven innings as the last-place Orlando Rays defeated the East-leading Carolina Mudcats for the second straight night, 6-2 at Cracker Jack Stadium.

Switzer (W, 3-2), who won his second straight start, allowed a single to Miguel Cabrera in the second, then a two-run homer to Cabrera (2-3, R, HR, 2RBI) in the fourth giving the Mudcats a 2-1 lead.

Orlando (12-20) scored a pair in the fifth for a 3-2 lead against an efficient Randy Messenger (L, 6IP, 6H, 6R, 3ER, 1W, 0K, 1WP, 1HBP). Jorge Cantu drilled a single inside first base to score Amado German with the tying run, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jace Brewer.

Carolina maintained its one-game lead over Tennessee in the East after the Smokies were beaten 10-5 Wednesday afternoon by Greenville.

In the Orlando sixth, shortstop Josh Wilson mishandled a grounder to start the inning led to three unearned runs as the Rays won for the fifth time in six games.

Bartolome Fortunado pitched the final two innings for the Rays..

In the loss, the Mudcats (21-11) established a franchise record, as for the first time in 13 years, failed to leave a runner on base during the game. The Mudcats were no-hit in 1997 by Ryan Franklin of Memphis, yet left two runners aboard in that game.

Chris Ashby (1-3, GDP) had the other lone single for the Mudcats.

Chris Key (ND, 2IP, 3H, 0R, 1K, 1HBP) made his Double-A debut, working two innings on three hits.

Donnie Bridges (0-0, 5.63) makes a fill-in start for Carolina Thursday night against the Rays Brian Stokes (1-3, 1.72) at 7:05 PM ET in Orlando.

Notes: 3B Cabrera, going 2-3 with a homer, extended his hitting streak to 14 games, matching Chris Aguila and Will Smith's 14-gamers earlier this season, and ranking as the sixth longest in franchise history... LHP Dontrelle Willis, who will make his major league debut against the Colorado Rockies Friday night in Miami, spent his final night with his teammates on Wednesday. Willis dressed in uniform #15, which will be his number for the Marlins... Bridges, who starts Thursday night for Carolina, was scheduled to start Saturday's opener in Mobile, but with Willis' promotion, has been moved ahead two days. Carolina is listing TBA for the BayBears game on Saturday night... 1B Pat Magness, who has played in one game since coming off the disabled list, will head to Jupiter Thursday to have an MRI performed on his right wrist. Magness is 4-27 this season... C Brandon Harper, sidelined with a severe sprain of his left ankle, still is unavailable to the team after a major collision at home plate with West Tenn outfielder Jason Dubois on April 27. Jorgensen has caught 67 1/3 consecutive innings. Ashby, a former catcher, is listed as the emergency catching back-up... Wednesday night's game lasted 1:56, Carolina's quickest game of the year.

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Carolina League Stories from May 7, 2003


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