Withrow fans career high nine in 2-1 loss

WILMINGTON, DE - Matt Withrow struck out a career high nine batters over six scoreless innings, but the Mudcats committed three errors in the seventh while allowing two unearned runs in a 2-1 loss to the Blue Rocks on Friday night.

Withrow left after the sixth with nine strikeouts, two walks and just three hits allowed over six innings in Friday's loss in Wilmington (48-76, 21-34). Withrow was pulled after throwing 89 pitches (55 strikes) and with the game tied at 0-0 after six.

Sean McLaughlin came on for the seventh and saw two unearned runs score after the Mudcats (45-80, 16-39) committed three errors in the frame. The errors (two for Sal Giardina at first and one from third baseman Luis Valenzuela) allowed the inning to survive long enough for shortstop Carlos Diaz to drive in two with a double to left. Diaz was 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win for the Blue Rocks.

McLaughlin (4-6, 2.73) allowed just the one hit in the seventh and ended up taking the loss. Raymar Navarro followed and pitched a scoreless eighth for Carolina. 

Wilmington's Derek Gordon, Sam Selman, Sam Lewis and Jake Newberry held Carolina to just one run and six hits while leading the Blue Rocks to the victory. Gordon started and allowed just two hits over four scoreless. Selman followed in relief and gave up two hits, but kept the Mudcats scoreless over two. Lewis (1-0, 5.40) later worked the seventh and part of the eighth with a run allowed on three hits and Newberry the final inning and a third. Lewis earned the win and Newberry (S, 2) finished the game while earning his second save.

Carolina's lone run came in the eighth when Keith Curcio doubled and scored on Kade Scivicque's single off Lewis. Curcio was 1-for-4 with a run and Scivicque was 2-for-4 with a RBI. His two hits and RBI were his first with the Mudcats and his first in the Atlanta Braves system.

Carolina managed only the one run in the loss and scored only one for the third consecutive game. The loss was Carolina's fifth straight overall and 13th straight away from Five County Stadium.

The series will continue on Saturday night with Ryan Clark (1-12, 6.02) starting for the Mudcats against Apex, NC native Matt Tenuta (6-8, 5.38) and the Blue Rocks.

Carolina Mudcats games air over the radio on The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and are streamed online at www.carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio app. All home games are additionally streamed live in high definition video and live game audio via MiLB.tv.

Tickets to all Carolina Mudcats games are currently available by contacting a front office representative at (919) 269-CATS (2287) or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. First established in 1991, the two-time Southern League Champion Carolina Mudcats are in their 26th consecutive season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. 

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