September 2 - Mudcats Game Notes

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MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (CHICAGO CUBS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS)
Saturday, September 2, 2017 | 4:00 PM | Game 135/136, Home Game 70/71 | 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: 69-65; MB: 73-63
Streaks: CAR: W3; MB: W2
Last 10 Games: CAR: 8-2, MB: 6-4
Home Record: CAR: 36-33; MB: 36-34
Road Record: CAR: 33-32; MB: 37-29
Division Record: CAR: 46-39; MB: 47-37
Current Series: 0-0 (of 4)
Season Series: CAR leads 9-8 (21)
CAR v. OPP: 2-2 @CAR (8), 7-6 @OPP (13)

UPCOMING PROBABLES:
SAT, 9/2, 4:00: Myrtle Beach RHP Duncan Robinson (4-3, 2.01) at Carolina RHP Conor Harber (3-9, 5.47)
SAT, 9/2, TBD: Myrtle Beach RHP Thomas Hatch (5-10, 3.90) at Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (6-8, 5.30)
SUN, 9/3, 6:00: Myrtle Beach RHP Alec Mills (0-1, 6.75) at Carolina RHP Jordan Yamamoto (8-4, 2.68)
ICYMI: Last night's game was postponed due to rain at Five County Stadium and will be made up today as part of a doubleheader… On Thursday night, Caleb Whalen drove in the game winner with a walk-off single in the ninth as the Mudcats downed the Dash 4-3 on Thursday night at Five County Stadium. The victory sealed a three game sweep for Carolina and lifted the Mudcats to a perfect 13-0 finish at Five County Stadium versus Winston-Salem this season.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Mudcats are currently 3.5 games behind the first place Buies Creek Astros in the Carolina League Southern Division second half standings. The Mudcats will officially be eliminated from post-season contention under the following scenarios: 1) One more Carolina loss 2) one more victory by the Buies Creek Astros over their final four games or 3) two more victories by Down East Wood Ducks over their final four games.
CLOSING TIME:Nate Griep earned his Carolina League leading 28th save (career high) of the season on 8/30 vs. Winston-Salem and is now tied for the most saves in Mudcats' franchise history. Griep is currently tied with 2008 Mudcats' closer Chris Mobley for the most saves in franchise history. The Carolina League record for most saves in a season is 41 and was set by Kinston's Mike Soper in 1991.
WALK THIS WAY: Trent Clark has totaled 97 walks over 129 games this season and is currently tied with 1998 Mudcat Tracy Sanders for the most walks in franchise history. The Carolina League record for walks in a season is 161 and was set by Salem's Gerald Davis in 1981 (.306/.504/.613, 611 PA).
THE MATCHUP: Today's doubleheader between the Mudcats and the Pelicans is the opener of a four game series between the two teams at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats lead the overall season series 9-8; they are also 6-3 versus the Dash in the second half.
STARTING OFF: Conor Harber and Marcos Diplan have the games one and two starts respectively in today's doubleheader versus the Pelicans… Harber enters today's game at 3-9 with a 5.47 ERA over 23 games and 13 starts with the Mudcats. He has also totaled 71 strikeouts, 62 walks and a .250 opponents average in 82.1 innings overall this season. Harber last pitched on 8/26 in Myrtle Beach where he worked through two scoreless frames with one unearned run allowed in relief of starter Trey Supak… Marcros Diplan has pitched to a 5.30 ERA and is 6-8 in 25 games and 21 starts this season. In 120.2 innings pitched, Diplan has struck out 114, walked 67 and allowed 11 home runs. Diplan last pitched on 8/27 in Myrtle Beach where he turned his best start of the season after holding the Pelicans to just one run over 6.2 innings and totaling six strikeouts. Diplan worked to a season high game score of 71 his last time out.
TURN IT: Carolina turned a season high four double plays on 8/26 in Myrtle Beach and finished August with 25 double plays over 28 games. They have also successfully converted 17 double plays since 8/16. The Mudcats executed 21 double plays in April, 19 in May, 10 in June and 22 DPs in July.
JEKYLL AND HYDE: Carolina opened the month of August at just 3-11 and were batting a combined .188 and slugging .285 over those first 14 games. They have since gone 11-3 over their last 14 games and are batting .285 and slugging .428 collectively.
BIG FLIES: The Mudcats have homered in three straight games and have totaled at least two home runs in both of their last two games. Lucas Erceg hit a two-run homer in Carolina's 2-0 victory on 8/29 vs. Winston-Salem… Max McDowell and Wendell Rijo hit back-to-back home runs on 8/30 vs. Winston-Salem… Weston Wilson (3rd inning, solo) and Wendell Rijo (7th inning, 2-run HR) both homered on 8/31 vs. Winston-Salem.
THIEVERY: The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 172 stolen bases and are 3rd in most steals in MiLB this season. Luis Aviles Jr. (37 SB, 8 CS) leads the Mudcats in steals and is also tied for 2nd in the CL in steals this season. Trent Clark (36, 5 CS) is 3rd in the CL in most steals this season. Corey Ray (24 SB, 10 CS) is 5th in the CL in stolen bases this season. Monte Harrison has totaled 16 stolen bases and has been just once over 55 games with Carolina. The club record for steals in a season is 208 and was set by the 2000 Mudcats.
WHERE THEY RANK: Trent Clark currently leads the Carolina League in walks (97, 2nd in MiLB) and is tied for the league lead in outfield assists (13). Clark is also tied for the CL lead in games (129), is 3rd in runs (76) and 3rd in stolen bases (36).
THE HAVES:
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .237 and are 33-33 in the 2nd Half (4.5 R/G, +9 DIFF, .241 AVG w/RISP).
- The Mudcats have combined to pitch to a 3.73 ERA and an 7.68 SO/9ip ratio in the 2nd Half.
- The Mudcats have combined to hit 100 home runs this season; 2nd most in the club's Carolina League era (105, 2012).
- The Mudcats have totaled 29 stolen bases over their last 13 games; they had previously totaled only five (5) steals between 8/1 and 8/14.
- The Mudcats have won 26 of 32 (26-6) when scoring at least one run in the first inning this season.
- The Mudcats have gone 6-8 in doubleheaders this season. They were 10-18 in doubleheaders last season.
- The Mudcats have gone 9-9-1 in series played so far in the second half.