Mudcats strikeout 12 times in 3-1 loss

MRYTLE BEACH, SC - Carolina starter Rob Whalen allowed just two earned runs in his Mudcats debut, but Myrtle Beach starter Brad Markey struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings as the Pelicans defeated the Mudcats 3-1 on Sunday night at TicketReturn.Com Field.

Markey (W, 3-0, 0.76) faced only 24 batters and scattered three hits over seven full innings pitched for the Pelicans (57-43, 16-15). He struck out a season high 10 batters and walked only one while earning the win in just his fourth appearance of the year.

Whalen (L, 0-1, 3.18) took the loss after allowing just two earned runs and three total on six hits over five and 2/3 innings pitched. It was his first start with the Mudcats and his first in the Atlanta Braves minor league system after being acquired in a trade on July 24. Whalen also walked three and struck out one while throwing 84 pitches (52 strikes) over his near six inning effort.

The Pelicans broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth and tacked on one more against Whalen in the sixth inning. Designated hitter Kevin Brown led off the Myrtle Beach fifth with a double and scored later in the inning on a single to right by Daniel Lockhart. A two-out single to deep third by Trey Martin later in the fifth brought in another run and the Pelicans took a 2-0 lead.

Jason Vosler drove in the final Myrtle Beach run with a RBI double in the sixth and the Pelicans took a 3-0 lead. Brown was 2-for-3 with a run, Vosler was 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI and Daniel Lockhart was 1-for-3 with a RBI for the Pelicans in the win.

Carolina scored its only run of the game in the ninth on a two-out RBI single to left by Carlos Franco. His hit came against closer Jasvir Rakkar, but the Mudcats finished with two men left on base in the ninth while losing 3-1. Franco was 1-for-4 with a RBI and Dustin Peterson was 2-for-3 with a run.

Whalen left during the sixth and reliever Andrew Waszak finished the game for the Mudcats. Waszak pitched two and 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit in his appearance.

The Pelicans got seven scoreless innings out of Markey before turning the game over to the bullpen in the eighth. James Farris worked the eighth and kept the Mudcats scoreless and without a hit. Rakkar labored through the ninth, but was able to finish the game with just one run and two hits allowed in the final inning.

The loss dropped Carolina to 3.5 games back of first in the second half standings behind the Winston-Salem Dash. It also dropped the Mudcats into a 1-1 series tie with the Pelicans in Myrtle Beach. The Mudcats will play the Pelicans for the final time in the 2015 regular season on Monday night with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at TicketReturn.Com Field. RHP Brandon Barker will start for the Mudcats in the series and road trip finale on Monday night.

All games air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, Rock City 99.3 FM and Sports 1490 AM. Games are also streamed online at www.carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio app. TuneIn Radio is the official digital audio partner of MiLB.com.

Individual tickets are now available online at www.carolinamudcats.com, by calling (919) 269-2287 and by visiting the Five County Stadium box office.

Premium Field Level seats are $12.00, Box Seats are $10.00 and Cattail Skybox Seats are $15.00. Flex plans, group tickets and the "Muddy Unreal Deal" plan are also currently available for purchase.

The Carolina Mudcats are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The 2015 "Braves New World" season is the first for the Mudcats as an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and their fourth straight in the historic Carolina League. First established in 1991, the Carolina Mudcats are entering their 25th straight season of baseball at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. Fans can purchase tickets or find more information by calling (919) 269-2287 or by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.

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