Carolina Mudcats Double Up Tennessee Smokies 4-2 for First Win Streak of Second Half

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – Zebulon, NC- The Carolina Mudcats (29-49, 2-7) have their first winning streak of the second half thanks to a 4-2 win over the Tennessee Smokies (41-35, 5-4)Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.

            Scott Nestor and Chris Mobley came in to hold a two run lead for three innings to give starter James Russ (W, 1-2) his first victory on the year. Russ pitched six innings, allowing just two earned runs. Russ ran into problems in the sixth with the bases loaded and just one out. The Concord, NC native eluded trouble thanks to a Taylor-made 6-4-3 double play turned by Chase Lambin and Eric Riggs.

            His counterpart Mark Holliman also found himself in trouble in the sixth, but wasn’t as lucky. Mudcats centerfielder Jonny Raburn had two runners on with one out and pulled the ball down the right field line to give Carolina a 4-2 lead. Holliman (L, 7-6, 2.74) picks up the loss in 5 1/3 innings. 

            The Mudcats would never look back as Nestor came in to pitch two scoreless innings, and Mobley nails his second save with a scoreless ninth.

            Carolina started the scoring in the first inning when catcher Brett Hayes beat out a fielder’s choice to score Raburn from third. Tennessee would bounce back in the top of the second with an RBI single off the bat of catcher Chris Robinson. Second baseman Gary Cates hit a one out solo home run in the third to give the Smokies a one run lead.

           The Mudcats continue their series with Tennessee Wednesday night at 7:15 PM ET with Rick Vanden Hurk (2-2, 4.05) pitching against Donnie Veal (4-5, 5.91).

Carolina Mudcats (30-49) 4, Tennessee Smokies (41-36) 2
June 26, 2007

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tennessee	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	11	1
Carolina	1	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	x	4	9	0

Tennessee	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cates, 2B	5	1	2	1	0	0	2	.260
Cortes, LF-RF	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.305
Fox, RF-C	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.284
Colvin, CF	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	.185
Craig, 1B	2	1	1	0	1	0	0	.327
McGehee, C, 3B	3	0	1	0	1	0	4	.253
Robinson, C	3	0	1	1	0	1	4	.225
Johnson, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a-Spearman, J, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.254
Rojas, C, SS	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.247
Holliman, P	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Salas, LF	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	.269
Totals	33	2	11	2	3	2	12	.274
a-Grounded out for Johnson in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Colvin (1, Russ, J), Cates (9, Russ, J), Salas 2 (8, Nestor, Mobley, C). HR: Cates (2, 3rd inning off Russ, J, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Cates 6; Fox; Colvin 3; Craig; McGehee, C; Robinson; Rojas, C; Salas 4. RBI: Robinson (14), Cates (22). 2-out RBI: Robinson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cortes 2; Cates. S: Craig. GIDP: McGehee, C 2; Robinson. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Craig (9, fielding). DP: (McGehee, C-Cates-Craig).

Carolina	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Raburn, CF-LF	4	1	1	1	0	1	1	.209
Riggs, 2B	3	1	1	0	1	0	2	.270
Lambin, SS	2	0	2	0	1	0	0	.283
Mitchell, 3B	3	0	1	0	1	1	4	.277
Moore, LF	4	0	1	2	0	1	3	.227
Mobley, C, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Hayes, C	4	0	0	0	0	0	5	.254
Psomas, 1B	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.244
Bear, R, RF	3	1	0	0	1	0	1	.251
Russ, J, P	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.167
a-Harrison, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.261
Nestor, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
b-Miller, PH-CF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.251
Totals	31	4	9	3	4	4	17	.243
a-Reached on error for Russ, J in the 6th. b-Singled for Nestor in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Lambin (13, Holliman), Raburn (4, Holliman). TB: Raburn 2; Riggs; Lambin 3; Mitchell; Moore; Psomas 2; Miller. RBI: Moore 2 (8), Raburn (9). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hayes; Raburn; Moore; Mitchell 2. S: Lambin. GIDP: Hayes. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING CS: Miller (2, 2nd base by Johnson/Fox). FIELDING Outfield assists: Bear, R (Robinson at home). DP: 3 (Lambin-Riggs-Psomas, Mitchell-Psomas 2).

Tennessee	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Holliman (L, 7-6)	5.1	8	4	4	3	2	0	2.74
Johnson	2.2	1	0	0	1	2	0	5.17
Totals	8.0	9	4	4	4	4	0	3.96

Carolina	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Russ, J (W, 1-2)	6.0	8	2	2	2	2	1	3.55
Nestor (H, 3)	2.0	2	0	0	1	0	0	3.64
Mobley, C (S, 2)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2.45
Totals	9.0	11	2	2	3	2	1	4.33

IBB: Lambin (by Johnson), McGehee, C (by Russ, J).
HBP: Raburn (by Holliman).
Ground outs-fly outs: Holliman 10-4, Johnson 1-4, Russ, J 8-7, Nestor 4-2, Mobley, C 2-1.
Batters faced: Holliman 28, Johnson 9, Russ, J 25, Nestor 8, Mobley, C 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Johnson 2-0.
EjectionsTennessee Smokies Manager Pat Listach ejected by 1B umpire John Haggerty. (9th).
Umpires: HP: Toby Basner. 1B: John Haggerty. 2B: . 3B: Jason Bradley.
Weather: 91 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 7 mph, Out to CF.
T: 2:32.
Att: 2,422.

Compiled by MLB Advanced Media