August 5, 2004: CAROLINA 2, Huntsville 1

Zebulon, NC - Jeff Inglin had three hits including a two-run double in the third inning as Carolina won his third straight game, 2-1 over the Huntsville Stars at Five County Stadium on Thursday night.

Inglin (3-4, 2b, 2rbi) swatted a double with two outs inside the right field line against Ryan Costello (L, 6-5) to score Billy Hall (2-4, r, 2b, k, sb, cs) and Chip Ambres (1-3, r, w, cs) with two outs as Carolina seized a 2-0 lead.

Huntsville (20-18) nipped away against Carolina starter Jason Iehl (ND, 4.2ip, 3h, 1er, rw, 2k) with a run in the fifth on a two-out triple by Rickie Weeks.

Iehl, making just his second start of the season, was forced out of the game with a developing blister on his fourth finger of his pitching hand. Joe Rodriguez (ND, 0.1ip, 1h, 0r, 0w, 0k) retired Prince Fielder on a bouncer to first to end the inning. Iehl and reliever Ryan Baker (ND, 1ip, 0h, 0r, 2w, 1k) each stranded the bases loaded in the second and sixth innings. The Stars left nine runners aboard.

Mike Flannery (W, 3-1, 2ip, 1h, 0r, 0w, 0k) worked two scoreless innings for the win, while Randy Messenger (S, 15, 1ip, 1h, 0r, 0w, 0k) finished his 11th consecutive save with a runner at third.

Jeff Fulchino (3-4) starts the second game of the series for Carolina (17-21) on Friday night against the Stars beginning at 7:15 PM ET.

Huntsville 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 --- 1 6 0 9
Carolina 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x --- 2 9 0 6

WP - Flannery (3-1)
LP - Costello (6-5)
S - Messenger (15)

HR - None.

Time: 2:52
Att: 2,369

Notes: Raleigh native Paul Stewart threw three scoreless innings for the Stars. Stewart, who starred at Garner High School, allowed four hits and no walks, whiffing two.... Carolina has now beaten Huntsville six consecutive games dating back to the Southern League Championship Series last September. Carolina trailed the best-of-five series 2-1 before winning the last two games en route to the title, then swept all three games in Huntsville, AL in April. That series was the only meeting in 2004 prior to Thursday night... Former Mudcat outfielder Chris Aguila notched his first major league hit Thursday night in Phoenix, AZ, singling in a run in the Marlins' ninth inning. Aguila's single came on a 1-2 pitch from Arizona's Mike Fetters, and scored Luis Castillo as part of the Marlins' 11-5 victory.... Friday night is Muddy The Mudcat's birthday party, which will include special appearances by professional mascots from across the state of North Carolina.

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