August 10 - Mudcats Game Notes

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LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (CLE) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MIL)
Thursday, August 10, 2017 | 7:00 PM
Game 115, Home Game 63
at Five County Stadium
RADIO: The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, WDWG 
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 56-58; LYN: 68-47
Streaks: CAR: L4; LYN: W3
Last 10 Games: CAR: 3-7, LYN: 7-3
Home Record: CAR: 31-31; LYN: 35-26
Road Record: CAR: 25-27; LYN: 33-21
Division Record: CAR: 35-34; LYN: 45-31
Current Series: LYN leads 2-0 (of 3)
Season Series: LYN leads 5-2 (8)
CAR vs. OPP: 0-4 @CAR (5), 2-1 @OPP (3)

UPCOMING PROBABLES:
THU, 8/10, 7:00: Lynchburg RHP Brock Hartson (5-4, 3.15) at Carolina RHP Jordan Yamamoto (5-3, 3.46)
FRI, 8/11, 7:05: Carolina RHP Zack Brown (-, -.--) at Myrtle Beach RHP Mike Rucker (4-2, 2.02)
SAT, 8/12, 7:05: Carolina RHP Trey Supak (3-3, 4.78) at Myrtle Beach RHP Duncan Robinson (2-3, 2.43)
ICYMI:Monte Harrison, Luis Aviles Jr. and Cooper Hummel turned a 9-2-6-2 triple play in game one, but Lynchburg's Sicnarf Loopstok homered twice over both games as the visiting Hillcats swept Wednesday's doubleheader 7-1 and 3-2 at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats (56-58, 20-26) dropped to 10.5 games out of first in the second half standings and saw their losing streak run to four straight games after losing both games of Wednesday's twin bill. 
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Mudcats turned a triple play in game one of last night's doubleheader versus the visiting Hillcats. The unconventional triple play went 9-2-6-2 and was the fifth triple play in Mudcats' team history. It was also Carolina's first in the club's Carolina League era and the first triple play of the year in the Carolina League… The Mudcats also turned triple plays on 6/21/95 vs. Greenville (3-5-6-9), 5/5/96 vs. Memphis (5-4-3, 10th inn.), 8/19/08 vs. Mississippi (6-3) and on 7/31/09 vs. Chattanooga (3-2-5)… The play began with the bases loaded and with a pop up to right that was caught by Monte Harrison. Harrison then threw home to catcher Cooper Hummel who then relayed the ball to shortstop Luis Aviles at second base. Lynchburg's Sicnarf Loopstok had broke for third from second on the fly ball and was eventually tagged by Aviles near third base. The lead runner, Connor Marabell, originally held on the catch, but broke for home shortly before Loopstok was retired. Aviles then threw home to catch Marabell, thus finishing the triple play and allowing reliever Luke Barker to escape bases loaded (inherited from Cody Ponce) jam in the sixth inning. 
THE MATCHUP: Tonight's game between the Mudcats and Hillcats is the finale of a three game series between the two teams. The Hillcats lead the current series 2-0 and currently own a 5-2 overall lead in the season series between the two teams. Lynchburg is also 4-0 against the Mudcats at Five County Stadium this season. The current series is the final meeting between the two teams this season. 
STARTING OFF: Jordan Yamamoto gets tonight's series finale start for the Mudcats versus the Lynchburg Hillcats. Yamamoto enters tonight's start at 5-3-1 with a 3.46 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 17 games, 13 starts and 78.0 innings this season. The Hawaiian born righty allowed a season high six earned runs his last time out on 8/4 at Buies Creek, but ended up with the victory despite giving up two home runs to Alex DeGoti and pitching to a season low 35 game score. Yamamoto has won three straight starts and is 3-0 with a 4.76 ERA over his last three starts and 3-2 with a 3.49 ERA over his last five.
HARRISON POW: Monte Harrison was recently named the Carolina League's Player of the Week for the week ending on August 6. Harrison hit .344/.364/.719 with a 1.082 OPS and a league high three home runs from July 31 through August 6. He also totaled three doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs and six runs over the award winning seven game stretch… Lucas Erceg also earned Player of the Week honors on 7/31; giving the Mudcats back-to-back P.O.W. award winners. Harrison and Erceg are the only two Mudcats players to earn the weekly honor this year.
HEATING UP: Lucas Erceg is batting .306/.346/.592 with a .938 OPS over his last 14 games (15-for-49, 9 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI)… Corey Ray is batting .293/.349/.500 with a .849 OPS over his last 15 games (17-for-58, 9 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 SB)… Weston Wilson is batting .333/.367/.544 over his last 15 games with the Mudcats (19-for-57, 6 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI).
20-20 CLUB: Monte Harrison has totaled 19 home runs and 18 stolen bases between Low-A Wisconsin (11 HR, 11 SB) and High-A Carolina this season. He is currently one of 13 MiLB players with at least 15 HR and 15 SB this season. AAA Lehigh Valley's Scott Kingery, AAA Fresno's Derek Fisher and Potomac's Daniel Johnson are the only players in MiLB with at least 20 HR and 20 SB this season. Harrison (11 HR/ 11 SB) and former Mudcat Troy Stokes Jr. (11 HR, 14 SB) were both among the 15 MiLB players to finish with at least 10 home runs at 10 stolen bases before 6/22 this season. 
THIEVERY: The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 140 stolen bases this season. They are also 3rd in most steals in MiLB this season. Trent Clark (29 SB, 5 CS) currently leads the Mudcats in stolen bases and is 4th in the Carolina League in most steals this season. Luis Aviles (26 SB, 6 CS) and Corey Ray (21 SB, 7 CS) are 5th and 7th in the CL in SB this season.
WHERE THEY RANK: Lucas Erceg is currently 2nd in the Carolina League in RBIs (65). Erceg is also tied for 6th in XBH (38), tied for 5th in doubles (25) and is tied for 7th in home runs (12)… Trent Clark leads the CL in walks (79) and outfield assists (13). Clark is also 3rd in the CL in games (109), 4th in runs (62), tied for 8th in OBP (.360) and 4th in stolen bases (29)… Isan Díaz is currently tied for 7th in the CL in home runs (12) and is 8th in the CL in RBIs (52)… Corey Ray is tied for 6th in the CL in doubles (24) and 7th in stolen bases (21).
THE HAVES:
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .231 and are 20-26 in the 2nd Half (4.46 R/G, -5 DIFF, .239 AVG w/RISP).
- The Mudcats have combined to pitch to a 4.18 ERA and an 8.37 SO/9ip ratio in the 2nd Half.
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .208 and are 1-7 in August (4.4 R/G, -18 DIFF, 6.42 ERA).
- The Mudcats have combined to hit 85 home runs this season; 2nd most in the club's Carolina League era.
- The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 140 stolen bases this season.
- The Mudcats have won 22 of 27 (22-5) when scoring at least one run in the first inning this season.
- The Mudcats have gone 4-8-1 in series played so far in the second half.
- The Mudcats have gone 6-8 in doubleheaders this season. They were 10-18 in doubleheaders last season.
- The Mudcats have not reached the playoffs since the 2008 season (Double-A, Florida Marlins).