July 14 - Mudcats Game Notes

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DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS (TEX) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MIL)
Friday, July 14, 2017 | 7:00 PM
Game 90, Home Game 44 
at Five County Stadium (6,500)
RADIO: The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, WDWG
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 46-43; DE: 34-55
Streaks: CAR: L1; DE: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 3-7, DE: 4-6    
Home Record: CAR: 26-21; DE: 18-32
Road Record: CAR: 20-22; DE: 16-23
Division Record: CAR: 29-24; DE: 26-36    
Current Series: Tied 1-1 (of 4)
Season Series: Tied 6-6 (21)
CAR vs.: 5-4 @CAR (14), 1-2 @OPP (7)

UPCOMING PROBABLES:
FRI, 7/14, 7:00: Down East RHP Richelson Peña (5-4, 2.90) at Carolina LHP Kodi Medeiros (3-6, 4.96)
SAT, 7/15, 5:00: Down East RHP Jonathan Hernández (1-2, 5.76) at Carolina RHP Conor Harber (1-6, 6.10)
SUN, 7/16, 1:05: Carolina LHP Frank Lopez (2-1, 7.59) at Salem RHP Mike Shawaryn (3-2, 3.12)
MON, 7/17, 7:05: Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (5-5, 5.51) at Salem RHP Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.31)
ICYMI: Lucas Erceg hit a 2-run home run in the eighth, but Down East's Matt Lipka went 3-for-5 with three runs and a 3-run home run as the Wood Ducks defeated the Mudcats 6-3 on Thursday night. The loss dropped the Mudcats into third place in the Southern Division standings by a half game behind Down East and into a 1-1 tie in the current four game set.
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Lucas Erceg was 2-for-4 with a 2-run home run in last night's loss to the visiting Wood Ducks. The home run was his ninth this season and brought Carolina's overall team total to 68 home runs this season. The franchise record for home runs in a season is 131 and was set by the 2004 Mudcats. The Mudcats' Carolina League era record for home runs in a season is 105 and was set by their inaugural Carolina League club in 2012. By year… 2017: 68 HRs, 2016: 56 HRs, 2015: 72 HRs, 2014: 68 HRs, 2013: 63 HRs, 2012: 105 HRs.
 
STARTING OFF: Kodi Medeiros starts for the Mudcats tonight in game three of Carolina's four game series versus the Wood Ducks. Medeiros has pitched to a 4.96 ERA and is 3-6-1 over 17 games and nine starts this season for the Mudcats. Medeiros has also totaled 75 strikeouts against 34 walks and a league high 12 hit batters over 74.1 innings this season. He last pithed on 7/8 in Winston-Salem and was able to pitch through his first quality start of the season after holding the Dash to three earned runs on three hits over 6.0 innings pitched. Medeiros allowed three runs in the second, but closed the inning with back-to-back outs and retired 13 straight between the end of the second and into the sixth inning.
THE MATCHUP: Today's game between the Mudcats and Wood Ducks is the third of a four game series and the third of 11 second half games between the two teams. Carolina is 6-6 versus Down East overall this season and has combined to hit .244/.326/.390 with nine home runs versus the Woodies. The Mudcats have also pitched to a 4.41 ERA with 79 SO (6.97 SO/9ip) and a .281 average against versus Down East this season.
HEATING UP: Trent Clark is batting .329/.495/.630 with 1.125 OPS over his last 21 games (24-for-73, 18 R, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 24 BB, 10 SB)… Isan Díaz is batting .349/.429/.488 with a .917 OPS over his last 12 games (15-for-43, 6 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI)… Jake Gatewood has seven (7) doubles over his last 12 games and is batting .292/.327/.438 since 7/1 (14-for-48, 10 R, 5 RBI)… Troy Stokes Jr. is batting .354/.475/.604 with a 1.079 OPS over his last 13 games (17-for-48, 8 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 11 BB).
THIS HALF: Trent Clark currently leads the Carolina League in OPS (1.152), on-base percentage (.500), extra-base hits (14), walks (23) and stolen bases (9) since the All-Star break. Clark is also second 3rd in the league in slugging (.652) and runs (18) this half… Troy Stokes Jr. is currently tied for 3rd in the CL in hits (26) since the All-Star break… Luis Aviles Jr. is tied for 2nd in the league in steals in the second half (8)… Jake Gatewood is tied for 2nd in the CL in doubles (8) since the break.
BULLISH PEN: Eric Hanhold is 5-0-1 and has pitched to a 1.52 ERA (11 G, 23.2 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 26 SO) since returning from the DL (5/18) and primarily pitching as a reliever over his last 11 appearances… Brad Kuntz is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA over his last 17 appearances (25.2 IP, 19 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 19 SO).
WALK THIS WAY: Trent Clark has walked 38 times over his last 36 games and is batting .259 with a .442 OBP, .448 SLG and .891 OPS since 5/31. Clark is currently 1st in the Carolina League and tied for 2nd in MiLB in walks this season (68).
THIEVERY: The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 119 stolen bases this season. They are also 3rd in most steals in MILB this season. Luis Aviles (23, 4 CS) and Trent Clark (23 SB, 3 CS) currently lead the Mudcats in stolen bases and are both tied for 3rd in the Carolina League in most steals this season. Troy Stokes Jr. (19 SB, 7 CS) and Corey Ray (18 SB, 7 CS) are 5th and 6th in the CL in stolen bases this season.
WHERE THEY RANK: Jake Gatewood is currently tied for the Carolina League lead in games (88), 4th in the CL in runs (56), 3rd in hits (93), 2nd in doubles (30), 2nd in XBH (41) and tied for 8th in HR (10)… Troy Stokes Jr. is currently tied for the CL lead in games (88), 5th in runs (54), 4th in XBH (34), tied for 5th in HR (13), tied for 4th in RBI (49) and tied for 5th in stolen bases (19)… Lucas Erceg is currently tied for 4th in the CL in RBIs (49) and is tied for 9th in home runs (9)… Isan Diaz is currently 7th in the CL in RBIs (45) and tied for 8th in home runs (10)… Nate Griep leads the CL in saves (17), games (t1st, 28) and games finished (26)… Trent Clark leads the CL in walks (68), is 4th in OBP (.386) and leads the league in outfield assists (12).
ON PACE: Jake Gatewood has totaled 30 doubles over 88 games this so far this season and is currently on pace to break the Carolina Mudcats' franchise record (42 - Gaby Sanchez, 2008) for doubles in a season… Trent Clark has totaled 68 walks over 84 games this season and is currently on pace to break the Carolina Mudcats' franchise record (97 - Tracy Sanders, 1998) for walks in a season… Nate Griep has totaled 17 saves this season. The Mudcats' franchise record for saves in a season is 28 and was set by Chris Mobley in 2008.
THE HAVES:
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .255 and are 13-12 since 6/13 (4.89 R/G, +1 DIFF, .264 AVG w/RISP).
- The Mudcats have combined to hit .248 and are 10-11 in the 2nd Half (4.76 R/G, -1 DIFF, .250 AVG w/RISP).
- The Mudcats have combined to pitch to a 4.27 ERA and a 9.16 SO/9ip ratio in the 2nd Half.
- The Mudcats have totaled a Carolina League high 119 stolen bases this season.
- The Mudcats have hit a Carolina League high 63 batters this season.
- The Mudcats have won 18 of 23 (18-5) when scoring at least one run in the first inning this season.
- The Mudcats have gone 11-15 overall in series opening games this season.