Sevierville, TN - Jeff Fulchino retired the final 15 batters he faced while Rex Rundgren drove in four runs to lead Carolina to a 7-2 victory over the Tennessee Smokies on Wednesday night at Smokies Park.

Fulchino (W, 4-5, 8ip, 3h, 2r, 2er, 2w, 8k) matched a career-high by pitching eight innings, allowing all three hits within the first two innings. Fulchino struck out the side in order in the fifth and finished with eight for the game.

Rundgren (3-4, 2-2b, 4rbi) doubled Carolina into the lead in the second inning, then hit a bases-clearing double in five-run third inning to spark the offense. The Mudcats (20-24) knocked out Anthony Reyes (L, 4-2) after the third inning. Reyes is 7-2 in his first pro year, with both losses against Carolina.

Jeff Inglin (1-5, r, 2b, rbi, k) drilled a double past the diving Skip Schumaker early in the third inning to snap a 2-2 tie.

Tennessee (19-26) evened the game in the bottom of the second on a single by Jon Hamilton and a double-play grounder from Milko Jaramillo.

Brian Strelitz (ND, 1ip, 0h, 0r, 0w, 2k) pitched a perfect ninth inning, as Carolina combined to retire the game's final 18 hitters.

Peter Bauer (5-9) starts the series finale against the Smokies Josh Axelson (5-5). Axelson makes the start instead of Chris Narveson, who was named as one of two players to be named later, traded from St. Louis to Colorado on Wednesday to complete the Larry Walker trade last week.

Carolina 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- 7 9 0 8
Tennessee 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- 2 3 1 2

WP - Fulchino (4-5)
LP - Reyes (4-2)
S - None.

HR - None.

Time: 2:33
Att: 1,877

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