Wednesday, August 10, 2005

W 8-7

Zebulon, NC --- For the fifth time in six games in the Carolina Mudcats' homestand, the Mudcats rallied in their final at-bat to defeat the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 8-7 at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night.

After sweeping Tennessee on three walk-off wins and stunning the Diamond Jaxx in the last of the ninth on Tuesday, Carolina scored three in the bottom of the ninth to take their largest first-place lead of the season.

Down to their final strike, Jason Hill smacked a two-run, two-out homer against Andy Shipman to tie the game 7-7.  Reggie Abercrombie then bounced an infield single, stole second and scored the winning run on Chris Bass' single to left field as the Mudcats (28-15, 69-42) took a three-game lead in the North.

At one point, the Mudcats trailed the first-half champion Diamond Jaxx (26-19, 70-44) 6-1.  However, Carolina scored four times in the sixth, highlighted by a three-run double by Bass, who finished the game with a season-high four RBI. 

Mike McNutt (W, 3-1) notched the win with a perfect ninth inning.  Luke Lockwood worked 5 1/3 innings in his start, allowing four hits and four runs.  Lockwood's string of consecutive scoreless innings ended at 24 2/3 on a sacrifice fly by Casey Kopitzke in the fifth inning.

Carolina won the season-series with West Tenn 9-7, and will likely play the Diamond Jaxx in the opening round of the Southern League playoffs.

The Mudcats begin an eight-game, seven-day road trip in Sevierville, TN on Thursday night against the Tennessee Smokies.  Adam Bostick (3-1, 2.89) starts against Enrique Gonzalez (9-7, 3.88) at 7:15 PM ET.  After four games against the Smokies, Carolina heads to the Southern Division's leader - Birmingham Barons.

WEST TENN            0 0 0   0 1 5   0 1 0    ---   7   9   1   7

CAROLINA              1 0 0    0 0 4   0 0 3   ---    8  10   1   8

WP - McNutt (3-1)

LP - Shipman (3-5)

S - None.

HR - Hill (16)

Time:  3:03
Att:  3,790