August 29, 2004

Greenville, SC - The Carolina Mudcats closed out their franchise series against the relocating Greenville Braves with a 5-2 set-clinching win on Sunday night at Municipal Stadium.

Trevor Hutchinson (W, 10-7, 6ip, 6h, 1r, 1er, 0w, 3k) became the second 10-game winner for the Mudcats this season four days after Nic Ungs won his 10th. Hutchinson allowed just a fifth inning run on a double to Tony Pena.

Carolina (31-31, 68-64) never trailed in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a double by Dennis Anderson (2-3, r, 2b, rbi, w) which scored Andy Rohleder (HR, 2, 2-3, 2r, 3rbi, w). After the Braves (33-28, 59-71) tied the game in the fifth, Hutchinson doubled off the base of the left-centerfield wall to score Anderson after a walk.

Rohleder drilled a line-drive three run homer in the seventh to stretch Carolina's lead to 5-1.

Carolina won the series 3-1, and finished 37-33 on the road in 2004, its fourth-best mark. Greenville won the all-time series 133-128.

Mike Flannery (S, 2, 1ip, 1h, 0r, 0w, 1k) worked a scoreless ninth inning for his second Mudcats save.

Earlier in the day, Chattanooga clinched the second half title with a 14-5 thrashing of Tennessee. The Smokies and Lookouts will vie for the Eastern Division pennant beginning next Wednesday.

Carolina begins a season-concluding eight-game homestand Monday night against the first-half champion Smokies at 7:15 PM ET. Nic Ungs (10-8, 4.46) starts against Jeremy Cook (8-3, 3.26).

Carolina 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 --- 5 9 0 9
Greenville 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 --- 2 9 0 6

WP - Hutchinson (10-7)
LP - Zumwalt (3-7)
S - Flannery (2)

HR - Rohleder (2)
Time: 2:45

Att: 1,643

Notes: The Greenville franchise will move to Pearl, MS beginning in 2005. The Braves play their final four home games ever at Municipal Stadium beginning Friday night against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.... The Mudcats have two 10-game winners for the first time since 1999 when Doug Walls (10-9) and Chandler Martin (13-8) accomplished the feat. Carolina also had two 10-game winners in 1995 and 1996... Rohleder's homer was his second of his Double-A career, and his first since July 25th against Chattanooga.... 1B Jason Stokes missed his fourth straight game with a left wrist ailment, similar to the one that cost him nearly a month in June/July. Stokes will be reevaluated during the upcoming homestand, but may not play the rest of the season.... Carolina finished its road slate winning 11 of its last 16 games.... 2004 will be the first in three seasons where the Mudcats did not make the playoffs... IF Billy Hall will be activated prior to Monday night's opener against the Smokies. Hall has been sidelined since August 22nd with a contusion, and did not make the road trip to Greenville... Carolina finished the season series with the Braves 14-6, including 9-3 at Greenville.