August 15 - Mudcats Game Notes

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CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS) at DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS (TEXAS RANGERS)
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 | 7:00 PM | Game 120, Away Game 60 | at Grainger Stadium | Kinston, NC
RADIO: WDWG, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: N/A
Overall Record: CAR: 57-62; DE: 51-70
Streaks: CAR: L2; DE: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 3-7, DE: 3-7
Home Record: CAR: 34-26; DE: 32-28
Road Record: CAR: 23-36; DE: 19-42
Division Record: CAR: 35-42; DE: 36-46
Current Series: DE leads 1-0 (of 3)
Season Series: DE leads 10-7 (of 23)
CAR v. OPP: 7-3 @CAR (14), 0-7 @OPP (9)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
WED, 8/14, 7:00 PM: Carolina RHP Jorge Ortega (0-2, 6.75) at Down East RHP Emerson Martinez (4-11, 4.28)
THU, 8/15, 7:00 PM: Carolina RHP Devin Williams (0-3, 6.37) at Down East RHP Rollie Lacy (0-2, 3.60)
TONIGHT: The Mudcats continue a seven game road trip tonight with the game two of a three game series versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC. Tonight's game is also the 18th of 23 total meetings between the two teams this season. Carolina trails the season series 10-7 and is currently 0-7 versus the Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium this season.
ICYMI: Bowden Francis allowed six runs and six hits in his Carolina debut and the Mudcats allowed eight runs and 12 hits overall while suffering an 8-0 series opening road loss to the Wood Ducks on Tuesday night. The loss dropped Carolina to 0-7 at Grainger Stadium in Kinston this season.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Last night's 8-0 loss marked Carolina's ninth shutout loss (10-9) of the 2018 season. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans currently the Carolina League in most shutout losses with 19 this season (15-19). Carolina went 12-8 in shutouts last year, 6-8 in 2016, 12-13 in 2015, 3-11 in 2014, 9-9 in 2013 and 8-12 in 2012.
WHERE THEY RANK: RHP Luke Barker leads the Carolina League in saves (17) and games finished (32). Barker is also 2nd in games (40), 4th among CL relievers in lowest batting average (.211), 2nd in fewest baserunners/9ip (8.89) and 4th in lowest BB/9ip ratio (1.98)… INF Dallas Carroll is currently tied for 1st in the CL in games played (116), 1st in at bats (443), 4th in most walks (57) and tied for 2nd in most double plays grounded into (15)... INF/OF Ryan Aguilar is tied for 2nd in the CL in triples (8) and tied for 4th in most strikeouts (112).
TRENDING: INF/OF Ryan Aguilar is batting .364/.447/.667 over his last 10 games (12-for-33, 7 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 13 SO)... OF Demi Orimoloye has hit safely in four straight and is batting .375/.353/.438 over his last four (6-for-16, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI)... C Mario Feliciano is batting .333/.415/.887 over his last 10 games (12-for-36, 5 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 13 SO)... LHP Daniel Brown has totaled 19 strikeouts over his last six appearances and last 12.1 innings.
OF LATE: The Mudcats are just 4-9 since Weston Wilson missed his first game due to injury on July 29 (3.00 R/G, .204 w/RISP)... As a team, the Mudcats have struck out in 29.9% of their plate appearances in August. The Mudcats have also walked in 11.8% of plate appearances this month (By month: July: 10.3 BB%, June: 8.4 BB%, May: 9.3 BB%, April: 10.1 BB%).
LATE LOSSES: Carolina has a CL high 15 losses when leading after 6 innings this season. They have also totaled a league worst 11 losses when leading after 7 innings. The Mudcats are the only CL team with more than 7 losses when leading after the 6th and more than 6 losses when leading after the 7th inning.
INSERT HUMMEL:Cooper Hummel is hitting .310/.443/.487 with a .930 OPS (35 H, 20 R, 14 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI) and a Carolina League leading 14 doubles since replacing an injured Tucker Neuhaus in the fourth inning of a home game versus the Keys on July 6. Hummel ended up going 1-for-2 with a two-run home run (eventual game winner in the seventh) in that same game and has not missed a start since (33 consecutive games).
WELL TRAVELED: C Robie Rojas has hit safely in four straight games and is 6-for-17 with four runs (.353/.450/.412) since returning to the Mudcats from Triple-A Colorado Springs on 8/3. Rojas appeared in four games with Colorado Springs (4/21-4/25, 7/15) and in three games with Rookie Level Helena (6/17-6/22) before retuning to the Mudcats on 8/3.
HITS AND Ks: The Carolina offense has totaled 208 more strikeouts than hits (1121 SO, 913 H) so far this season. Carolina's difference in strikeouts over hits is currently the 4th largest in MiLB. Since 1991, only the 2017 and 2007 Mudcats have finished a season with more strikeouts than hits. Carolina totaled 164 more strikeouts than hits in 2017 (1,245 SO [franchise record], 1,081 H) and 70 more strikeouts than hits in 2007 (1,219 SO, 1,149 H).
RECORD SETTING: Carolina batters have combined to total a CL high 1,121 strikeouts this season and are on pace for a CL and franchise record 1,300 strikeouts this season. The Carolina offense struck out a CL and franchise record 1,245 times last season... The Mudcats hit into a franchise record six (6) double plays 8/10 in Salem (Dallas Carroll: 5-4-3; Devin Hairston [3]: 6-4-3, 5-4-3, 5-4-3; Trever Morrison: 3u-3-6; Rob Henry 6-4-3)… The Mudcats set a franchise record for strikeouts in a nine inning game after totaling 19 strikeouts on on 5/31 in Lynchburg (Marcos Diplan: 10 SO, Chase Williams: 3 SO, Phil Bickford: 3 SO, Luke Barker: 3 SO).
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Averaged the 2nd fewest runs per game in the CL (3.92).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (467) in the CL this season.
... Allowed the 5th fewest runs (503) in the CL this season.
... Hit a CL low three home runs in August.
... Totaled the worst K% (offense) in the CL this season (25.7%).
... Totaled a CL high 15 losses when leading after 6 innings.
... Totaled a CL high 11 losses when leading after 7 innings.
... Gone 22-20 (.524) vs. the CL Northern Division.
... Converted 61% of save chances in the 2nd half (14/23).
... Hit a CL low .233 with RISP & a CL low .214 w/RISP/2outs.
... Made 89 total roster transactions this season.
... Not made the playoffs since the 2008 season.
... Not made the playoffs during their Carolina League era.
... Been in Zebulon, NC since 1991 (28th season).
... Been in the Carolina League since 2012 (7th season).