August 26, 2004

Greenville, SC - Ryan Minor doubled home the winning run in the 11th inning as Carolina overcame the loss of a six-run lead to defeat Greenville 7-6 on Thursday night at Municipal Stadium.

Minor smacked a pitch from Matt Coenen (L, 2-5) with one out in the 11th to bring home Josh Willingham (HR, 22, 3-5, 3r, 2b, 2rbi, w) with the tie-breaking run.

Ryan Baker (W, 5-3, 2ip, 1h, 0r, 0w, 2k) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Carolina led 6-0 after three innings thanks to a three-run first and third innings. Willingham and Chip Ambres (HR, 17, 1-1, 2r, rbi, s, 4w, cs) hit consecutive homers in the third against Zach Miner.

The Braves (32-25, 58-69) scored a run in the fourth and fifth against Mike McNutt (ND, 5ip, 6h, 2r, 1er, 1w, 4k) to close to 6-2, but still trailed 6-2 entering the bottom of the ninth.

Mike Flannery (ND, 2ip, 3h, 3r, 3er, 1w, 1k), who entered in the seventh inning behind reliever Jason Pearson (ND, 1.1ip, 2h,m 0r, 0w, 2k), allowed a three-run homer to Andy Marte with one out to draw the Braves to within 6-5. Randy Messenger (BS-ND, 0.2ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 0w, 1k) allowed a double to Scott Thorman, fanned Jeff Francoeur for the second out, but surrendered a game-tying single to Lee Evans to tie the game 6-6.

Andy Rohleder (1-5, 2b, 2rbi, w, 4k) doubled in two runs in the first inning.

Jeff Fulchino (5-5, 4.57) starts against Matt Coenen (1-2, 2.89) on Friday night at 7:15 PM ET.

Carolina 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 --- 7 11 3 11
Greenville 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 --- 6 14 2 11

WP - Baker (5-3)
LP - Coenen (2-5)
S - None.

HR - Willingham (22), Ambres (17), Marte (21)

Time: 3:45
Att: 1,328

Notes: Willingham's 22nd homer is within one of the Mudcats single-season record, co-held by Jason Stokes and Mark Johnson in 1994... Stokes was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup with a flare-up in his left wrist. Stokes missed nearly a month earlier in the season with an injured left wrist. Stokes will be re-evaluated Friday, and is currently listed as day-to-day.... OF James Shanks was also scratched from the lineup an hour before the game with a migraine. Shanks is expected to play Friday... Messenger's blown save was his first since June 4th. Messenger had saved 15 consecutive chances... Carolina is now 12-5 against Greenville in 2004 with three games remaining. The Mudcats are playing their final series ever at Municipal Stadium. The Braves are relocating to Pearl, Mississippi for the 2005 season.... Ambres continues to build on a career-high in homers with 17. His previous high was 10, set last year... The five innings pitched by McNutt were his longest in three starts with Carolina... Carolina's day-of-game bus ride was afflicted by a broken down air conditioning unit an hour into the 4 1/2 hour drive. A new bus arrived in Greenville before the game.... Greenville C Bryan Pena was ejected by first base umpire Brandon Bushee after arguing an out-safe call at first base on a grounder hit by Pena in the bottom of the 10th. Pena's ejection forced manager Brian Snitker to play a pitcher - Brett Evert - in left field and move second baseman Juan Velazquez to catcher for the first time in his career. Then in the Carolina 11th, Rohleder was run by plate umpire Jamie Roebuck for arguing balls and strikes. Mudcats manager Ron Hassey moved shortstop Jimmy Goelz into right field.