Wednesday, June 22, 2005

W 3-2

Zebulon, NC --- Josh Johnson became Carolina's first seven game winner, pitching seven innings as the Mudcats beat Mississippi 3-2 at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night. 

Eric Reed floated a single over a drawn-in Wes Timmons at third base for a bases-loaded, two-run hit as the Mudcats (43-27, 2-0) took a 2-1 lead in the second inning.  Robert Andino bounced a hit up the middle to score Reed in the fifth as the Mudcats assumed a 3-0 lead. 

Johnson (W, 7-3), who ended a two-start losing streak, fanned seven and scattered nine hits over his outing.  Johnson, like Yorman Bazardo the night before, dodged a first inning, bases-full jam.  The Braves stranded nine baserunners in Johnson's tenure.

Scott Thorman homered for the second straight night, his team-leading 11th, with two outs in the seventh.

With the 2-0 start, Carolina is tied atop the Northern Division with the Tennessee Smokies.

Kevin Cave pitched a scoreless eighth, while Chris Resop (S, 17) pitched a hitless ninth to earn his league-best 17th save.  In the ninth, the Braves (36-36, 0-2) watched Carlos Duran reach on a throwing error by Andino, a ball headed for the Braves dugout.  However, the ball deflected against back-up catcher Iker Franco, sitting on the top step of the dugout and bounded back into the field of play, preventing Duran from being awarded second base.  Timmons and Jeff Francoeur flew to center to end the game.

The Mudcats managed just six hits against a quartet of Braves pitchers, including former Mudcats Brian O'Connor and Mike Porzio.  O'Connor (L, 4-4), who pitched for Carolina in the second half of 1998, allowed three runs over five innings.  Porzio, who was a Mudcat as a Colorado affiliate in 2000, permitted a hit in 1 1/3 innings in relief of O'Connor. 

The Mudcats, who opened the first half 5-0, shoot for their third straight on Thursday night with Jason Vargas making his first Double-A start for Carolina.  Matt Wright (5-6, 6.07) will oppose for Mississippi.

Randy Messenger, a Mudcat pitcher in 2003 and 2004, made his major league debut for Florida on Wednesday night, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves.  Former Mudcat reliever Chad Bentz was optioned to Albuquerque to make room for Messenger.

MISSISSIPPI            0 1 0   0 0 0   1 0 0   ---   2   9   0   10

CAROLINA               0 2 0   0 1 0   0 0 x   ---   3   6   2    9

WP - Johnson (7-3)

LP - O'Connor (4-4)

S - Resop (17)

HR - Thorman (11).

Time:  2:38

Att:  4,844