Wednesday, June 21, 2005

W 3-2

Zebulon, NC --- After finishing the first half with 41 victories, yet no playoff berth, the Carolina Mudcats went back to work Tuesday night, defeating the Mississippi Braves 3-2 in the second half opener at Five County Stadium.

JC Muniz singled in Chris Bass with the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning to lift Carolina in its first-ever meeting with Mississippi.  Carolina (42-27, 1-0) has now won two straight after losing nine in succession.

Yorman Bazardo (W, 5-4) earned his first win since May 21st, pitching seven full innings, scattering nine hits and two runs.  Bazardo opened the game facing the bases loaded, but struck out consecutive hitters and received a groundout to exit the inning.

Mississippi (36-35, 0-1) assumed a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo homer by Scott Thorman, then pushed the lead to 2-0 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Wes Timmons.

The Mudcats, who lost five baserunners during the game, tied the game in the sixth against starting pitcher Matt Coenen.  Eric Reed walked, was bunted to second by Robert Andino, but was thrown out at home on a single by Jeremy Hermida, who took second on the out.  Jason Hill drove in Hermida with a base hit to left, and took second on the play at home.  Ryan Basner relieved Coenen only to see his first pitch hit to center by James Shanks to score Hill to tie the game.

Carolina hit into two double plays, had a runner picked off at first and one thrown out stealing second, along with Reed being tossed out at home in the sixth.

Mike Flannery threw a scoreless eighth, ending on a throw by Hill cutting down Onil Joseph trying to steal, one of two Hill gunned down for the game.  Chris Resop (S, 16) earned his league-best 16th save with a three-strikeout ninth inning, stranding the tying run at first base.

Shanks paced the 11-hit attack, going 3-3, while Hill was 2-4. 

Josh Johnson (6-3, 3.03) starts the second game of the series on Wednesday night against Matt Wright (5-6, 6.07) at 7:15 PM ET.

MISSISSIPPI            0 0 0   1 1 0   0 0 0   ---   2   11   0   8

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

WP - Bazardo (5-4)

LP - Basner (1-6)

S - Resop (16)

HR - Thorman (10)

Time:  2:32
Att:  3,732