Mudcats swept by first place Dash
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Dash rallied for three runs over their final three innings and finished a three game sweep of the Mudcats with a 3-1 win at BB&T Ballpark on Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped Carolina to 5.5 games behind the first place Dash in the second half playoff race.
The Mudcats (64-61, 30-26) were held without a hit in five at-bats with runners in scoring position in Sunday's loss. They finished the series 1-for-25 when batting with runners in scoring position and left 20 men on base overall. It was the fifth time that they had been swept in a series this season and their first since Potomac won three straight at Pfitzner Stadium between 6/28 and 6/30. Carolina scored first in all three games of the road series, but lost all three games.
Brandon Brennan started for the Dash (65-60, 35-20) and pitched two scoreless innings in his first start back off the disabled list. Left-hander Brian Clark (W, 8-4, 2.62) took over for Brennan in the third and went on to allow just one run over six innings pitched. He allowed a run to score on a bases loaded force hit into by Sal Giardina in the fourth, but limited the Mudcats to just three hits and one run overall while earning the win.
Brandon Barker (L, 8-4, 3.00) started for Carolina and suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs over six plus innings pitched. He worked into the seventh and struck out six in his first loss since 7/27.
Barker and the Mudcats had a 1-0 lead through the fifth, but that changed when Adam Engel led off the sixth with a triple to deep right-center. Engel then came in from third to score the tying run on a grounder to second hit by Eddy Alvarez. Keith Curcio attempted to use the Alvarez grounder to retire Engel at the plate, but Engel slid past the tag made by Jose Briceno to even the game up at 1-1.
The Dash later broke the tie in the seventh after scoring once and collecting four straight hits off Barker in the inning. The rally started with a double by Trey Michalczewski and continued with singles from Keon Barnum, Nick Basto and Brett Austin. Basto's single to right plated Michalczewski and the Dash took a 2-1 lead.
Barker pitched into the seventh, but left with the bases loaded and without recording a walk in his final inning. He left the game with three men on, but all three failed to score as reliever Bradley Roney struck out the side to finish the inning.
Barker allowed two runs in the loss, walked two and struck out six. He held the Dash without a hit through the first three innings and allowed a total of six hits in the loss.
Roney brilliantly left the bags full in the seventh after inheriting a jam from Barker in his first inning of work. He was not as fortunate though in the eighth after he allowed Alvarez to reach third on a throwing error to first. He then allowed Alvarez to score from third on a wild pitch and the Dash took their 3-1 lead. The wild pitch happened as Roney attempted to intentionally walk Michalczewski with one out in the inning.
The Mudcats collected three hits over the final three innings, but were not able to get any of their late base runners to score. Jacob Schrader led off the ninth with a single, but was left at first to end it as reliever Matt Cooper (S, 1) retired the next three straight while earning his first save.
The Mudcats had previously won four straight before dropping all three in Winston-Salem. Those four wins were all picked up at home in Zebulon, which is where the Mudcats play on Monday night. Carolina will next play the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Five County Stadium beginning on Monday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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. Flex plans, 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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