August 19 - Mudcats Game Notes

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FREDERICK KEYS (BAL) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MIL)
Saturday, August 19, 2017 | 5:00 PM
Game 124, Home Game 65
at Five County Stadium
Zebulon, NC
RADIO: The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, WDWG 
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 61-62; FRE: 57-65
Streaks: CAR: W3; FRE: L1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 5-5, FRE: 5-5
Home Record: CAR: 32-32; FRE: 36-24
Road Record: CAR: 29-30; FRE: 21-41
Division Record: CAR: 39-37; FRE: 31-43
Current Series: CAR leads 1-0 (of 3)
Season Series: Tied 8-8 (18)
CAR vs. OPP: 5-4 @CAR (11), 3-4 @OPP (7)

UPCOMING PROBABLES:
SAT, 8/19, 5:00: Frederick LHP Reid Love (3-4, 3.80) at Carolina RHP Conor Harber (3-8, 5.26)
SUN, 8/20, 2:00: Frederick TBD at Carolina RHP Cody Ponce (7-8, 3.59)
MON, 8/21, off
ICYMI: Lucas Erceg went 3-for-5 with a game tying double, Cooper Hummel had a go-ahead double in the seventh, Monte Harrison had three hits while scoring twice and Zack Brown worked through another quality outing as the Mudcats defeated the Keys 6-2 on Friday night at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats (61-62, 25-30) fell behind early in Friday's home win after the Keys (58-64, 27-26) struck for two runs in the third. Carolina, however, bounced back with a run in the same inning and trailed 2-1 before later going ahead with a two-run seventh and then sealing the series opening victory with three runs in the eighth. The victory also ran Carolina's current win streak to three straight games.
OF LATE: The Mudcats have won three straight games and are 4-1 over their last five games… The Mudcats have totaled 13 stolen bases over their last four (4) games… The Mudcats have totaled 14 hits in back-to-back games and have scored 18 runs over their last two games… The Mudcats turned two double plays last night and have turned 10 double plays since 8/12.
THE MATCHUP: Tonight's game between the Mudcats and the visiting Keys is game two of a three game series between the two teams. Carolina is 5-4 against the Keys at Five County Stadium, 3-4 versus the Keys in Frederick and 8-8 overall against Frederick this season… Luis Aviles Jr. is batting .407/.462/.559 with a team high 24 hits over 15 games against the Keys this season… Trent Clark is batting .310/.408/.448 with two home runs and 14 runs scored versus Frederick this season… Conor Harber is 0-0 with a 4.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 6 SO) over two starts versus the Keys this season.
STARTING OFF: Conor Harber has the start for the Mudcats tonight in game two of Carolina's three game series versus the Keys. Harber is 3-8-1 with a 5.26 ERA over 21 games and 12 starts and has totaled 69 strikeouts and 60 walks over 75.1 innings for the Mudcats this season. Harber has started August going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA over two games and one start this month, but was 2-2-1 with a 3.24 ERA over six games and three starts in July (25.0 IP, 23 SO). He last pitched on 8/12 in Myrtle Beach where he allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits over 3.0 innings in relief of starter Trey Supak.
THIEVERY: The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 155 stolen bases and are 3rd in most steals in MiLB this season. Luis Aviles (34 SB, 7 CS) currently leads the Mudcats in steals and is also 3rd in the CL in most steals this season. Trent Clark (30 SB, 5 CS) and Corey Ray (21 SB, 10 CS) are 5th and tied for 8th in the CL in stolen bases this season. The club record for saves in a season is 208 and was set by the 2000 Mudcats.
WHERE THEY RANK: Lucas Erceg is currently 2nd in the Carolina League in RBIs (69). Erceg is also tied for 5th in XBH (42), 5th in doubles (28) and is tied for 6th in home runs (13)… Trent Clark is currently 2nd in the Carolina League in walks (83) and tied for the league lead in outfield assists (13). Clark also leads the CL in games (118), 3rd in runs (67) and 5th in stolen bases (30).
CLOSING TIME:Nate Griep set a new career high for saves while earning his Carolina League leading 24th save of the season on 8/16 against the Wood Ducks. Griep matched Chris Resop of the 2005 Mudcats for the fourth most saves in club history with his 24th on 8/16. The Mudcats franchise record for saves in a season is 28 and was set by Chris Mobley in 2008. Matt Ryan of the 1995 Mudcats is second in saves in team history with 26 and Dave Wainhouse of the 1996 Mudcats is third with 25.
HAWAII KO: Jordan Yamamoto is currently just 6.1 innings shy of qualifying for the Carolina League pitching top-10. Yamamoto would be tied for third in the league in earned run average if he was qualified at this point in the season (0.8 IP/team game). Yamamoto will need to reach at least 110.1 innings to qualify at the end of the season.
BULLISH PEN: Wuilder Rodriguez ranks atop Carolina League relievers in several categories including AVG (1st, .145) ERA (2nd, 1.46), WHIP (1st, 0.88), LOB% (2nd, 85.0), and fewest baserunners/9ip (1st, 8.06) among CL pitchers with at least 50.0 innings pitched…  Brad Kuntz 3rd among CL relievers in lowest BB-IBB/ratio (2.65), 4th in fewest baserunners/9ip ratio (10.06) and 2-2-0 with a 2.48 ERA over his last 24 games (40.0 IP, 27 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 39 SO, .186 AVG).
20-20 CLUB: Monte Harrison became the seventh player in MILB this season to reach the 20/20 club after hitting his 20th home run and stealing his 21st base after going 3-for-6 with a home run and two stolen bases on 8/17 at Down East. Harrison has now totaled 20 home runs and 23 stolen bases between Low-A Wisconsin (11 HR, 11 SB) and High-A Carolina this season. 
THE HAVES:
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .229 and are 25-30 in the 2nd Half (4.33 R/G, -1 DIFF, .234 AVG w/RISP).
- The Mudcats have combined to pitch to a 3.90 ERA and an 8.18 SO/9ip ratio in the 2nd Half.
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .214 and are 6-11 in August (4.0 R/G, 4.30 ERA since 8/1).
- The Mudcats have combined to hit 89 home runs this season; 2nd most in the club's Carolina League era.
- The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 155 stolen bases this season.
- The Mudcats have won 23 of 28 (23-5) when scoring at least one run in the first inning this season.
- The Mudcats have gone 5-9-1 in series played so far in the second half.