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CarL1 Carolina Mudcats

Sunitsch, Hardy and Bickford Combine on 5-0 Shutout

August 28, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release


Scott Sunitsch pitching for the Carolina Mudcats
Scott Sunitsch pitching for the Carolina Mudcats
(Carolina Mudcats, Credit: Evan Moesta)

ZEBULON, NC - Scotty Sunitsch struck out a career high eight over five scoreless one-hit innings, Pat McInerney had a two-run home run in the fourth and a RBI single in the sixth and Phil Bickford struck out five over two scoreless frames while finishing off a 5-0 Carolina victory versus Fayetteville on Wednesday night at Five County Stadium.

Brice Turang got the Carolina (26-39, 65-69) offense on the board with their first hit and run of the game after singling to start the fourth and then scoring on McInerney's home run to left. McInerney's big fly brought in the first runs of the game as well as it gave Carolina a 2-0 lead. It was also his ninth homer of the season and the first of his two run scoring hits in the game as he also put the Mudcats up 3-0 in the sixth with a two-out RBI hit.

Carolina, meanwhile, took a 5-0 lead in the seventh after Nathan Rodriguez and Jackie Urbaez both drove in their first RBIs of the season with Rodriguez being struck by a pitch with the bases loaded and Urbaez coming through with a sacrifice fly.

Sunitsch (W, 2-0, 1.26) earned the win after blanking the Woodpeckers (36-28, 67-66) over five scoreless and allowing just one hit in the game. That lone hit allowed was a two-out double in the fifth from Fayetteville's Scott Schreiber. Sunitsch also walked three over the first two innings, but ended up totaling a career high eight strikeouts while reaching 85 pitches (46 strikes) over his brilliant five-inning start.

Matt Hardy and Bickford followed Sunitsch in relief with Hardy (H, 6) pitching around four hits and working through a scoreless sixth and seventh. Bickford then pitched the final two innings and struck out five while facing only six batters.

Bickford also struck out the side in the ninth while finishing the game and stretching his scoreless innings streak to 24.2 innings. Bickford has, additionally, pitched through 14 consecutive scoreless appearances dating back to July 9 (24.0 IP, 6 BB, 38 SO).

Nivaldo Rodriguez started and took the loss for Fayetteville despite allowing just two runs on two hits over five innings. Rodriguez (L, 3-5, 2.92) originally began his start with three no-hit frames, but then gave up Turang's lead off single in the fourth and McInerney's homer to left. Rodriguez also finished the game with seven strikeouts while reaching 62 pitches (42 strikes).

Relievers J.P. France and Riley Cabral followed with France allowing a run and retiring only two batters in the sixth and Cabral allowing two runs on two hits over two and 1/3.

Carolina's victory snapped a three-game losing streak and lifted them to 1-2 in the current four game series with Fayetteville. The win also brought them to an even 3-3 in their final home stand of the season. The home stand will conclude with Carolina's final home game of the season on Thursday night with RHP Nelson Hernandez (11-9, 4.46) starting for the Mudcats.

The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream in high-definition video on MiLB.tv via paid subscription.

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Scott Sunitsch pitching for the Carolina Mudcats
Scott Sunitsch pitching for the Carolina Mudcats
(Evan Moesta)		   

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