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The Carolina Mudcats are at that point in the season in which they either make their move, or fall back into the pack for good. Based upon this week of baseball, things just aren't looking good. After a two week hiatus, Fishing with Mudcats returns for a two-parter to get you all caught up with the Carolina League. Today is part one...and tomorrow we'll complete the cycle heading into next week.

The Carolina Mudcats dropped arguably their most bitter defeat on Thursday night as Myrtle Beach escaped with a 5-4 triumph in 11 innings at TicketReturn.com Field. A raucous crowd of 6,599 watched the Mudcats storm back from certain defeat to tie the game 4-4 in the ninth, only to lose in one of the craziest finishes of the year.

The Carolina Mudcats (26-25) fell to the Frederick Keys (24-26) 8-2 sfter an hour and 35 minute rain delay 8-2 as the Keys were able to sweep the three game series. The Mudcats offense was only able to muster two hits in the game as the Keys starter Tim Berry tossed a stellar outing.

In this week’s first edition of Minor Happenings, Tony takes a look at Tyler Sturdevant's return to form, where he is at in his recovery from injury, and his Major League potential in the near future. He also looks at the progress being made by promising young lefty Luis Lugo in Arizona, why Giovanni Soto was shut down, provides lots of comments from Ross Atkins on the trade deadline decision-making process, plus updates and information on players like Matt Langwell, Chun Chen, Ronny Rodriguez, Jose Ramirez, Robbie Aviles, Claudio Bautista, and more.

The Carolina Mudcats (26-24) were stifled by Frederick Keys (23-26) starter Devin Jones as they fell to the Keys 5-2 on Tuesday night. Jones tossed six scoreless innings and was backed by five runs to allow the Keys to take the first two games of the series.

The Carolina Mudcats (25-24), behind a huge night from catcher Dwight Childs, beat the Frederick Keys (23-25) 9-5 on Monday night to open a three game series. Righty Michael Goodnight took the mound for the Mudcats and struggled to find his command as he walked five batters in just four and one third innings of work.

Mike Rayl has been an anchor for Carolina over the last few weeks, and his unrelenting will power helped the Carolina Mudcats combine on a 5-0 shutout of the Lynchburg Hillcats on Sunday evening at Calvin Falwell Field.

The Lynchburg Hillcats scored five straight over the second half of Saturday night’s game at Calvin Falwell Field to win 7-3 over the Carolina Mudcats. Lynchburg wins the weekend series over Carolina with the triumph.

The modus operandi for the Carolina Mudcats offense has been to battle until the final out this year. Trailing 6-1 going into the ninth, the Mudcats nearly overcame the odds by bringing the tying run to the plate, but the Lynchburg Hillcats held on for a 6-3 win on Friday night at Calvin Falwell Field.

The Carolina Mudcats clubbed four doubles, and used three of them to plate runs in a 3-2 thriller over the Salem Red Sox on Thursday night at LewisGaleField. The win earns the Mudcats (24-22, 56-60) a win of the three-game series. J.D Reichenbach (4-5) dealt two scoreless innings for the win.

There are lots of good things happening in the Indians minor league system and this week Tony touches on the hot pitching of late from Jeanmar Gomez and the incredible turnaround by Tony Wolters, has all sorts of comments from the Indians Player Development staff on players at Mahoning Valley, provides injury updates on several players like Tyler Naquin and LeVon Washington, and lots of stuff on Cord Phelps, Paolo Espino, Todd Hankins, Jerrud Sabourin, Jacob Lee, Nelson Rodriguez and more!

he Salem Red Sox scored three runs, with two outs, in the bottom of the ninth to drop the Carolina Mudcats 7-6 on Wednesday night at LewisGale Field. Salem (18-27, 59-55) appeared down to the end with Xander Bogaerts at the plate and trailing 6-4. Against reliever Grant Sides (2-1), the shortstop smacked an 0-2 pitch off the right field wall for a run-scoring triple.

Giovanny Urshela and Ronny Rodriguez provided the offense to back Mike Rayl’s effort in a 6-2 win over the Salem Red Sox on Tuesday night at LewisGale Field. The infield duo cracked a pair of three-run homers, and Rayl pitched his 11th quality start of the season as Carolina improved to 23-21 in the second half and 55-59 overall.

The Carolina Mudcats offense was absolutely stagnant on Saturday Night, as the Lynchburg Hillcats overwhelmed the Muddies 10-2. Carolina took an early lead, but were unable to hold it, as they fell to one game over .500 in the second half of the season.

ZEBULON- The Carolina Mudcats (21-19) fell for the second straight night, losing to the Lynchburg Hillcats (19-21) 7-2. Each time the Mudcats would tie the game, the Hillcats would go right back in front in the next half inning.

The Carolina Mudcats (21-18) were shut out by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (22-17) in their attempt to sweep the series as they fell 3-0. The Pelicans returned the favor to the Mudcats, who shut them out the previous night.