May 24 - Mudcats Game Notes

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DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS (TEXAS RANGERS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS) 
Thursday, May 24, 2018 | 7:00 PM | Game 47, Home Game 25 | at Five County Stadium | Zebulon, NC
RADIO: WDWG, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 23-23; DE: 26-19
Streaks: CAR: W1; DE: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 6-4, DE: 7-3
Home Record: CAR: 15-9; DE: 16-6
Road Record: CAR: 8-14; DE: 10-13
Division Record: CAR: 16-20; DE: 23-15
Current Series: CAR leads 2-1 (of 4)
Season Series: DE leads 8-4 (of 23)
CAR v. OPP: 4-2 @CAR (14), 0-6 @OPP (9)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
THU, 5/24, 7:00 PM: Down East RHP Michael Matuella (1-3, 8.04) at Carolina LHP Cam Roegner (5-1, 0.76)
FRI, 5/25, 7:00 PM: at Myrtle Beach RHP Bailey Clark (1-1, 2.89) at Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (1-2, 3,98)
SAT, 5/26, 5:00 PM: Myrtle Beach RHP Keegan Thompson (1-3, 4.14) at Carolina RHP Trey Supak (2-1, 1.76)
TONIGHT: The Mudcats continue an eight game home stand today with the final game of a four game series versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats won yesterday's game 2-1 in ten innings and have a 2-1 lead in the four game set. Carolina currently trails the first place Wood Ducks by 3.0 games in the first half, Southern Division standings.
ICYMI: Cooper Hummel came through with a game tying RBI single with two outs in the ninth and Tucker Neuhaus delivered a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the tenth as the Mudcats defeated the visiting Wood Ducks 2-1 in ten innings on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium.
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Yesterday's 2-1 walk-off victory lifted the Mudcats into a two games to one lead in their four game set versus the Wood Ducks. It was also Carolina's first win this season when trailing after eight innings, their second extra innings victory (2-3) and brought them back into a .500 record at 23-23 on the season.
VS. DEWD: Today's game is the fourth and final game of a four game series between the Mudcats and Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. It is also the 13th of 23 total games between the two teams this season. The Wood Ducks lead the overall season series 8-4; with six of those victories coming at Grainger Stadium. The Wood Ducks have swept the Mudcats twice at home this season, but are 2-4 at Five County Stadium against Carolina this year.
MUDCATS STARTER: The Carolina League's top pitcher in LHP Cam Roegner has the start for the Mudcats in tonight's series finale versus the Wood Ducks. Roegner currently leads the CL in ERA having gone 5-1 with 0.76 ERA over eight starts this season. He has also totaled 30 strikeouts, 13 walks and a .220 average against so far this season. Roegner has won three straight starts and has also pitched through three consecutive scoreless outings. He is also in the midst of a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 22.2 innings (dating back to the 4th inning on May 2 in Myrtle Beach). Roegner last pitched on May 19 at Buies Creek where he worked through 7.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, a walk and four hits allowed.
OPP STARTER: RHP Michael Matuella goes for the Wood Ducks in tonight's series finale against the Mudcats. Matuella enters tonight's start at 1-3 with a 8.04 ERA over seven starts this season and has totaled 28 strikeouts, 14 walks and a .313 average against over 31.1 innings this season. Matuella last pitched on May 17 at home against the Mudcats. He allowed four runs on five hits over 5.0 innings his last time out and struck out six while facing the Mudcats for the third time this season. Matuella is currently 0-1 with a 13.91 ERA over three starts (11.0 IP, 20 H, 17 R, 6 BB, 11 SO) against the Mudcats this season.
SINCE WHEN: The Mudcats are 9-7 over their last 16 games (since May 7) and own a +18 run differential over that same span... The Carolina pitching staff has collectively pitched to a 2.41 ERA and the offense has averaged 4.00 runs per game since May 7… The Carolina starting rotation is 5-3 with six quality starts and a 1.86 ERA since May 7 (82.1 IP, 31 BB, 74 SO)… The Carolina bullpen is 4-4-5 and has pitched to a 3.12 ERA since May 7 (57.2 IP, 24 BB, 54 SO).
ONE-TWO PUNCH: Carolina's starting rotation features the top two earned run average leaders in the Carolina League in Cam Roegner (1st, 0.76) and Trey Supak (2nd, 1.76)... Roegner leads the Carolina League in lowest earned run average (0.76) and is 2nd in MiLB in lowest ERA so far this season. Roegner is also 1st the CL in LOB% (94.8%), tied for 3rd in GB% (53.7%), 3rd in WHIP (1.06) and 4th in innings pitched (47.1)… Supak is currently 2nd in the CL in lowest earned run average (1.76). Supak also leads the CL in innings (51.0), is tied for 2nd in strikeouts (48), 2nd in WHIP (1.04), 4th in average against (.208) and 3rd in fewest baserunners/9ip ratio (9.88).
WHERE THEY RANK: Keston Hiura leads the Carolina League in doubles (14) and is tied for the CL lead in extra-base hits (20). He also leads the CL in extra-base hits during the month of May (15)… Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. is tied for 3rd in the CL in stolen bases (12)... Ronnie Gideon (62) and Tucker Neuhaus (61) are 1st and 2nd in the CL in most strikeouts... Luke Barker leads CL relievers in games (16) and fewest baserunners/9ip (7.92)... Max McDowell leads MiLB catchers in most caught steals (26) and is tied for 1st in caught stealing/stolen base efficiency (.531) for catchers with at least 30 attempts against
MUDDIES ON THE POND: Carolina is batting a CL low .232 with runners on base. They are also batting a CL low .241 with runners in scoring position. The Mudcats have additionally struck out a league high 218 times when batting with runners on base this season and a CL high 128 times with runners in scoring position.
STRUGGLING LATE: Mudcats pitchers have combined to pitch to a 7.11 ERA (30 R, 25 ER, 25 BB, 37 SO) in the ninth inning so far this season... The Carolina offense, meanwhile, has combined to score just 10 runs in the ninth inning of games this season… Carolina has a league high eight losses when leading after six innings this season. They also have a league high six losses when leading after seven.
HITS AND Ks: The Carolina offense has totaled 99 more strikeouts than hits (463 SO, 364 H) so far this season. Carolina's difference in strikeouts over hits is currently the 3rd 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 last season (1,245 SO [franchise record], 1,081 H) and 70 more strikeouts than hits in 2007 (1,219 SO, 1,149 H).
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Stranded the most base runners in the CL (360).
... Averaged the fewest runs per game in the CL (3.98).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (183) in the CL this season.
... Totaled the worst K% in the CL this season (26.9%).
... Converted 50% of save opp. (13 SV, 26 SVO); 10th in CL.
... Totaled a CL leading 30 caught steals (.423 - 2nd in CL).
... 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).