Staff%20Report Archive

The Carolina Mudcats watched another rally thwarted when the Frederick Keys came up with one of their own on Thursday night at Harry Grove Stadium. Pinch hitter Mike Flacco launched a towering two-run shot over the left field wall, and the Keys escaped, 4-3.

Nathan Karns held the Carolina Mudcats to one run over seven innings as the Potomac Nationals claimed the series with 2-1 victory on Monday night at Pfitzner Stadium. Karns (4-2) scattered three hits as the Potomac Nationals improved to 10-9, 41-48 overall. The Mudcats fell to 11-8, 43-46 overall.

Geoff Davenport dominated the early part of Sunday Night's game for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, leaving the game with a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning. The bullpen would give up three runs to tie it up in the seventh and eighth, sending the game into extra innings. Tyler Naquin, who struggled offensively through most of the night, found his swing in the eleventh, winning the game with an RBI single.

There's a good chance Alex Monslave won't forget his first hit as a Carolina Mudcat. The catcher recorded his first hit, a home run, to back a dominating start from Mike Rayl to lead Carolina to a 3-2 win over the Potomac Nationals.

A day after committing five errors against Salem, the Carolina Mudcats faltered on two different occasions that led to pivotal runs in a 4-3 loss to the Potomac Nationals on Saturday night at Pfitzner Stadium. Carolina dropped to 10-6 in the second half, and 42-45 overall. Potomac scored the winning run on Kevin Keyes’ 10th home run of the year in the eighth inning.

The Akron Aeros have enjoyed prolific offensive outbursts this season, and they have benefited often from terrific pitching performances. The two haven’t always occurred on the same night, however. That changed Wednesday night in Erie, as the Aeros snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-2 victory over the SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park.

The Scrappers offense had been stifled all game long. Then in the top of the 8th inning, Tyler Naquin drove a 0-2 pitch over the head of centerfielder Brian Pointer to drive in 2 runs to tie and take the lead. Naquin ended up at third base with a two run triple and the Scrappers come home from Williamsport with a 3-1 win.

Richmond catcher Johnny Monell hit his second home run in as many nights when he smacked a game-winning two-run shot in the third inning of Richmond’s 7-5 victory over Akron on Tuesday night at Canal Park. Monell and the Flying Squirrel offense combined for 15 hits as they roughed up Akron starter Brett Brach for seven total runs to defeat the Aeros.

The Carolina Mudcats could not hold a late two-run lead, and fell to Myrtle Beach 5-4 in 11 innings on Saturday night at TicketReturn.com Field. The Mudcats led 4-2 entering the eighth inning. After Michael Goodnight dealt another quality start, two runs over seven innings, Carolina handed the ball to Jose Flores. The rest is history...

The Carolina Mudcats’ bullpen gave a strong effort in a 9-6 triumph over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night at TicketReturn.com Field. Dale Dickerson (5-2), Shawn Armstrong and Grant Sides combined to hold the Pelicans (6-3, 42-37) to two runs over the final seven innings. Dickerson entered the game in the third, and allowed one run on one hit over three innings to earn the win.

The Carolina Mudcats received another terrific start from southpaw Mike Rayl, but could not capitalize on the opportunity in a 3-2 loss to Myrtle Beach on Thursday night at TicketReturn.com Field. Rayl tossed seven innings for the fourth time this year, allowing two runs and scattering five hits. He walked two and struck out four. It was his sixth quality start in 16 outings for the Mudcats (5-3, 37-41).

The Dayton Dragons (1-5, 31-45) used a nine run bottom of the third inning to defeat the Lake County Captains (3-3, 34-41) by a final of 10-3. Dayton sent 13 men to the plate and scored nine times. In the inning Dayton hit for the cycle as a team including two triples, two doubles and a three run homer by the number nine hitter, Yovan Gonzalez.

Jordan Cooper and the Carolina Mudcats held a pesky Frederick Keys team at bay on Wednesday afternoon to pick up a 4-2 win in front of 3,382 at Five County Stadium. Cooper (3-3) tossed four innings in relief of starter Danny Salazar, holding the Keys (3-4, 30-47) to one run while scattering three hits.

If he could, Ramon Garcia would pitch against the Akron Aeros every time he takes the mound. The Erie lefty beat the Aeros again on Tuesday night, as the SeaWolves spoiled the opener of Akron’s eight game homestand with an 8-5 victory at Canal Park. Garcia (6-6) improved to 4-0 on the season against Akron.

It took extra innings, but the Clippers pulled it out as they defeated the Norfolk Tides 4-3 in eleven innings. The Tides would strike first offensively in the top of the third. After a two out double by Xavier Avery, Nate McLouth sent a fly-ball out towards the right field wall. The ball sailed over Russ Canzler's head, allowing Avery to score rather easily as Norfolk staked itself to an early 1-0 lead.

To some people, both the games of baseball and poker are considered to be boring. They both have long periods where there does not appear to be anything happening and then suddenly the games explode into exciting action. However, both games also share a yearly tradition that is the goal of every player in both games, and that is the World Series.