Jacksonville, FL --- On a day when it appeared Carolina's winning streak may come to an end, the Mudcats raged for six runs in the 10th inning capped with three ejections of Jacksonville players as Carolina picked off its franchise-tying 10th consecutive win, 11-6 on Wednesday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds.

 

Leading 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Suns (9-11) staged a two-run, two-out rally against closer Chris Resop (W, 1-0).  Russell Martin singled to keep the game alive, followed by a double to center by Joel Guzman, which was lost in the sun by James Shanks.  James Loney just missed ending the game doubling high off the right-centerfield wall to tie the game before Resop struck out the final hitter.

 

In the 10th, the fireworks began.  Already playing without manager John Shoemaker, who was ejected earlier for arguing a call at home plate, Guzman was thrown out after a disputed call at first base on an infield single by Jeremy Hermida to start the inning.  During the vehement confrontation, three arguments were going on simultaneously with different Suns players with the three umpires.  Todd Donovan, who pinch-hit earlier in the game, was also tossed from the Suns dugout.  When it finally settled, Todd Sears doubled into the right field corner pushing Hermida to third.  An intentional walk followed before Chris Bass hit into a force play.  Chris Ashby then broke the 5-5 tie with a two-strike single to right, which opened the floodgates.  Rex Rundgren dropped a single to score another run, and Resop capped the six-run frame by tripling to the warning track in left-center.  Shanks added a run-scoring single.  When the inning ended, Suns centerfielder Jon Weber was thrown out for continuing to argue to play earlier in the inning.

 

It appeared as though Carolina (16-3) would cruise to the victory thanks to Sears, who singled in a run in the first and then hit a three-run homer in the third for a 4-0 lead.  Logan Kensing worked six full innings, permitting two runs and fanning six, but did not figure in the decision. 

 

The Suns had numerous chances, at one time stranding seven of their nine runners in scoring position.  The three-game sweep was the first over the Suns by any Southern League team in the two-plus seasons Jacksonville has been playing in its new home.

 

Carolina continues to hold the best record in the minor leagues at 16-3, and is now ahead of the scintillating start of the 2003 championship club, which broke 15-4 through 19 games. 

 

The Mudcats have strung together seven of the victories in this skein on the road, which is one shy of the longest road win streak set in 2002. 

 

The Mudcats send Yorman Bazardo in the series opener at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, AL on Thursday night at 8:05 PM ET.  The game will be heard on WDNZ-AM 570, WKXU-FM 102.5 and http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/ beginning at 7:50 PM ET.

 

CAROLINA            1 0 3   0 0 0   0 1 0   6   ---   11   12   2   6

JACKSONVILLE    0 0 0   1 1 0   1 0 2   1   ---    6    13   0  12

 

WP - Resop (1-0)

LP - Olson (0-1)

S - None.

HR - Sears (2), Sprout (2)

 

Time:  3:26

Att:  4,083