June 23 - Mudcats Game Notes

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CAROLINA MUDCATS (MIL) at POTOMAC NATIONALS (WAS)
Friday, June 23, 2017 | 7:05 PM
Game 70, Away Game 32
at Pfitzner Stadium (6,000)
RADIO: The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, WDWG 
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: -
Overall Record: CAR: 36-33; POT: 34-27
Streaks: CAR: L1; POT: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 4-6, POT: 7-3    
Home Record: CAR: 21-17; POT: 19-16
Road Record: CAR: 15-16; POT: 15-21
Division Record: CAR: 22-17; POT: 22-31    
Current Series: POT leads 1-0 (of 4)
Season Series: POT leads 3-2 (of 8)
CAR vs. OPP: 2-2 @CAR (4), 0-1 @OPP (4) 

UPCOMING PROBABLES:
FRI, 6/23, 7:05: Carolina RHP Trey Supak (1-2, 6.20) at Potomac LHP Hector Silvestre (6-2, 4.34)
SAT, 6/24, 6:35: Carolina RHP Cody Ponce (5-5, 3.67) at Potomac TBD
SUN, 6/25, 2:00: Carolina TBD at Potomac TBD
MON, 6/26, 7:00: Carolina TBD at Buies Creek TBD
ICYMI: Jake Gatewood hit a solo home run in the second, Jose Cuas hit a two-run homer in the top of the third, but the Mudcats lost a three run lead in the last of the third while falling in their second half opener 5-3 on Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va.
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: All three of Carolina's runs in last night's 5-3 loss to the Nationals were driven in on home runs hit by Jake Gatewood (solo) and Jose Cuas (2-run). It was the fourth time over the last 11 games where the Mudcats managed to score all of their runs in a game on home runs. The Mudcats have also relied on the home run for half of their runs over their last 11 games (20 of last 40 runs have been scored on home runs).
STARTING OFF: Right-hander Trey Supak starts for the Mudcats tonight in game two of a four game series in Potomac against the Nationals. Supak is currently 1-2 this season with a 6.20 ERA over four games and three starts with the Mudcats. Supak has allowed at least one home run in each of his last three starts. He has also walked two or more in each of his last three outings. Supak last pitched on 6/17 in a game versus the P-Nats that was originally started on 6/16, but suspended due to rain with two outs in the first inning. His last outing officially counted as a relief appearance as he entered the resumed game in the first following starter Cody Ponce. Supak allowed four runs and four hits (including two home runs) over 6.1 innings pitched his last time out for the Mudcats. He also struck out six in his last outing and has struck out 23 over 20.1 innings (10.18 SO/9ip) overall this season with Carolina.
KING OF THE BIG FLY: Jake Gatewood won the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Classic Hitting Challenge on June 20 at Haley Toyota Field in Salem, Va. Gatewood homered 13 times in both the first and second rounds before winning the All-Star Game Home Run Derby with a final round total of 15 home runs. A 17-year-old Gatewood also won the 2013 Junior Home Run Derby at the Major League Baseball All-Star festivities at Citi Field in New York and the 2013 Baseball Factory Home Run Derby at the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
CLOSING TIME: Nate Griep has successfully converted 12 straight save opportunities and has pitched to a 1.74 ERA during the streak (10.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 8 SO, .206). Griep currently leads the Carolina League and is tied for 4th in MiLB in saves this season (14). Griep has held left-handed hitters to a .071 average (2-for-28) this season and is 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA over nine road appearances (11.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 13 SO).
TWO-OUT RIBEYES: Troy Stokes Jr. has totaled a team high 41 RBIs, with 20 of the 41 RBIs coming in 2-out situations this year. Stokes currently leads the Mudcats with 20, 2-out RBIs this season. Jake Gatewood is 2nd with 16, 2-out RBIs and Lucas Erceg is 3rd on the Mudcats with 14, 2-out RBIs this year.
WALK THIS WAY: Trent Clark has reached base via base on balls 16 times over his last 18 games and is batting .180 with a .382 OBP since 5/31. Clark is currently 2nd in the Carolina League and 7th in MiLB in walks this season (46).
THIEVERY: The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 90 stolen bases this season. They are also 4th in most steals in MILB this season. Trent Clark (16 SB, 2 CS) leads the Mudcats and is currently 3rd in the Carolina League in stolen bases this season. Corey Ray (15 SB, 5 CS) and Luis Aviles Jr. (15 SB, 4 CS) are both 2nd on the Mudcats in steals and are both currently tied for 4th in the league in stolen bases this season. Troy Stokes Jr. (14 SB, 4 CS) is tied for 5th in stolen bases in the CL this year.
DOUBLE DOUBLE: Troy Stokes Jr. finished the first half of the season with a team high 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Stokes is the first Mudcats player to collect at least 10 HR and 10 SB before the All-Star break since Chris Heisey totaled 13 HR and 13 SB before the break in 2009. Stokes was one of 14 players in MiLB this season to finish the first half in the 10/10 club. Monte Harrison also reached the 10/10 club before the break after totaling 11 SB and 11 HR with Wisconsin this year.
WHERE THEY RANK: Jake Gatewood is currently tied for the League lead in games (68) and is 5th in the CL in runs (45), tied for 6th in hits (72), 2nd in doubles (22), 4th in XBH (33) and tied for 6th in HR (10)… Troy Stokes Jr. is currently tied for 5th in the CL in home runs (11) and tied for 6th in the CL in RBIs (41), 7th in runs (41), tied for 7th in extra-base hits (25), tied for 5th steals (14) and tied for 1st in games (68)… Nate Griep leads the CL in saves (14) and games finished (21)… Trent Clark is 2nd in the CL in walks (46), tied for 4th in steals (16) and leads the league in outfield assists (10).
HEATING UP: Lucas Erceg is batting .367/.411/.531 over his last 14 games (18-for-49, 7 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI)… Troy Stokes Jr. is batting .310/.412/.690 with a 1.101 OPS over his last eight games (9-for-25, 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 SB)… Luis Aviles has hit safely in seven consecutive games and is batting .357/.357/.500 during the streak (10-for-28, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 7 SO).
THE HAVES:
- The Mudcats have combined to hit just .229 and are 11-12 since 5/25 (4.04 R/G, -17 DIFF).
- The Mudcats have totaled a league high 90 stolen bases this season.
- The Mudcats have been intentionally walked a Carolina League and MiLB high 14 times this season.
- The Mudcats have hit a Carolina League high 55 batters this season (t3rd most in MiLB).
- The Mudcats have not yet lost a Sunday afternoon game at home this season (7-0).