Streak Climbs To Record Tying 12 Straight

ZEBULON, NC - Starter Yean Carlos Gil allowed five runs over three and 1/3 innings in game one and starter Sean Furney gave up six earned runs over four innings in game two as the Mudcats lost 5-3 and 6-3 over both games of a doubleheader with the visiting Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.

The two losses extended the Mudcats (19-24) current losing streak to a franchise record tying 12 straight games. The 12 game losing streak matches a franchise mark that was originally set in 1992.

Gil (0-8, 6.45 ERA) pitched into the fourth and gave up eight hits in the game one loss. The Pelicans (29-15) scored twice against him in the first and broke a 2-2 tie with three runs scored in the third. The Mudcats fell behind 5-2 after the fourth in game one and ended up losing the game 5-3.

Furney (0-2, 5.29) allowed two Myrtle Beach runs in the second, third and fourth innings and left the game with the bases loaded in the fifth. He finished his start with four walks and six earned runs allowed on eight hits.

Relievers Caleb Dirks and Justin Jackson finished out game one after Gil departed the game. Dirks inherited two in the fourth when Gil left and allowed one to score. He eventually got out of the fourth and came back for a scoreless fifth. Dirks walked three, struck out one and did not allow a hit over one and 2/3 scoreless innings. Jackson pitched the final two innings and kept the Pelicans scoreless while striking out three.

Starters Jonathan Martinez and Daury Torrez earned the game one and game two victories respectively for the Southern Division leading Pelicans. Martinez (3-1, 3.00) scattered five hits and held the Mudcats to three runs over five innings pitched in game one. Torrez (4-2, 4.02) also went five and gave up eight hits and three runs while striking out three in victory.

Catcher Victor Caratini led the way for the Pelicans in game one after going 3-for-3 with a run scored. Myrtle Beach leadoff man Mark Zagunis scored twice in the game and was 1-for-3. Gil allowed two, two-out RBI doubles in the first. The first was hit by Jeimer Candelario and the second came from Ben Carhart.

Carolina came back with a run in the second and in the third to tie the game, but the Pelicans rattled off three runs on two hits in the fourth to take the lead for good. Levi Hyams had a RBI triple off Martinez in the second and was 1-for-3 in the loss. Joey Meneses then tied the game at 2-2 in the third with a two-out bloop single to shallow center. Meneses attempted to reach second on the hit, but was caught to end the inning.

Game two featured a two run single in the third from Myrtle Beach designated hitter Chesny Young, a RBI bunt single in the fourth from Pin-Chieh Chen, and run scoring hits from Carhart and Carlos Penalver in the fifth. Furney left during the fifth and after facing four batters in the inning.

Newly added reliever Cole Brocker finished the fifth and was able to hold the Pelicans to one run in the inning. He inherited three runners and allowed only one to score. Brocker pitched two scoreless innings in his Mudcats debut and struck out two. Jorge Zavala finished the game while working a scoreless seventh.

Carolina made things interesting in game two after scoring three times on four hits in the fifth. Connor Lien led off the inning with a double to left-center and Reed Harper moved him over to third on a single to right. Keith Curcio brought Lien in with a single to right and Harper later scored on a double to left by Sal Giardina. A sacrifice fly from Jacob Schrader scored the final Mudcats run in the inning, but the rally came up short as they were held scoreless the rest of the way. Pelicans reliever Zack Cates worked a scoreless sixth and seventh while earning his second save of the season.

The Pelicans collected 18 hits over the two games and were 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position in game one and stranded 12 men on base. They were also 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position in game two with five men left on.

The series concludes on Friday night with the first pitch at Five County Stadium scheduled from 7:00 p.m. RHP Seth Webster (0-1, 1.29 ERA) will get the start for the Mudcats in the series finale. The Pelicans will counter with RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (5-0, 1.38 ERA).

All games air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, Rock City 99.3 FM and Sports 1490 AM. Games are also streamed online at www.carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio app. TuneIn Radio is the official digital audio partner of MiLB.com.

Individual tickets are now available online at www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium box office.

Premium Field Level seats are $12.00, Box Seats are $10.00 and Cattail Skybox Seats are $15.00. Full season ticket packages, half season ticket packages, group tickets and the "Muddy Unreal Deal" plan are also currently available for purchase.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The 2015 "Braves New World" season is the first for the Mudcats as an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and their fourth straight in the historic Carolina League. First established in 1991, the Carolina Mudcats are entering their 25th straight season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. Fans can purchase tickets or find more information by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

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