August 23, 2004

Zebulon, NC - The word "defending" will only be part of the defending league champion Carolina Mudcats for a mere two more weeks.

With a win in the second game on Monday night, the Chattanooga Lookouts, the winningest team in the league in 2004, eliminated Carolina from the second half race, hence slamming the door on a third straight playoff appearance and a chance at winning consecutive league titles.

Carolina (27-30, 63-61) won the rain-suspended game from Saturday 6-2 after leading 6-0 after nearly 4 1/2 innings. Brian Strelitz (W, 4-1, 3.2ip, 3h, 2r, 2er, 1w, 2k) earned the victory behind Jeff Fulchino (ND, 4.1ip, 5h, 0r, 1w, 4k), who came up two outs shy of a victory on Saturday.

Jason Stokes (HR, 22, 1-3, r, 2rbi, w, k) hit a two-run homer in the third against Lance Caraccioli (L, 2-1) followed by a three-run homer by James Shanks (HR, 1, 12-3, r, 3rbi, w) to cap a five-run inning Saturday night.

In the nightcap, Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a groundball-turned-error by shortstop Jeff Bannon on a bouncer by Trevor Hutchinson with the bases loaded. Matt Demarco (2-4, r, gdp) then hit into a 4-6-3 double play to maintain the 1-0 deficit for 11-game winner Steve Kelly.

The Lookouts (41-16, 79-48) went ahead 2-1 in the fifth on a double by Edwin Encarnacion and an error by Josh Willingham (1-4) in left field overrunning the grounder.

A two-out wild pitch by Kelly permitted the Mudcats to tie the game at 2 in the last of the fifth, however pinch-hitter Travis Wilson capped a two-out, none-on rally in the sixth with a double to left to score Bobby Darula for the 3-2 win.

Carolina trails the Lookouts by 14 games with 13 to play in the second half. Greenville is 8 1/2 back, with an elimination number of 4.

Carolina concludes its five-game homestand Tuesday night with Nic Ungs (9-8, 4.55) starting against Elizardo Ramirez (0-0, 6.30) at 7:15 PM ET.

Game # 1
Chattanooga 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 -- 2 8 0 9
Carolina 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 x -- 6 6 1 8

WP - Strelitz (4-1)
LP - Caraccioli (2-1)
S - None.

HR - Stokes (22), Shanks (1)

Time: 2:42
Att: 5,886

Game # 2
Chattanooga 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 -- 3 7 2 5
Carolina 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 -- 2 7 1 7

WP - Kelly (11-6)
LP - Hutchinson (9-7)
S - Salmon (3)

HR - None.

Att: 2,872
Time: 2:12

Notes: IF Billy Hall was placed on the disabled list with a concussion before Monday's game. Hall was injured on a game-ending play on Sunday when he collided beyond first base after Brian Peterson's game winning bunt. Hall's 13-game hitting streak remains alive awaiting his return.... RHP Steve Kelly's 11th win ties him for the league lead with Heath Phillips of Birmingham. Kelly allowed one earned run in five innings, lowering his ERA to 3.03, but still second to Reynel Pinto of West Tenn, who sits at 2.92 with two starts remaining... SS Rex Rundgren was activated in Hall's absence... RHP Mike Flannery pitched a scoreless inning in each of Monday's two games.