Series finale ends in 5-0 shutout loss

ZEBULON, NC - Alec Mills held the Mudcats without a run through six and 2/3 innings and struck out six while leading the Blue Rocks to a 5-0 victory in the finale of a three game series at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night.

Carolina (66-62, 32-27) took the first two games of the series and fell one win shy of earning a sweep in the three game home series. They also failed to gain ground on first place Winston-Salem after the Dash were rained out in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday night. The shutout loss dropped the Mudcats to 5.0 games back of the Dash in the second half playoff race with 11 games remaining in the season.

Blair Walters (L, 5-8, 2.93) started for the Mudcats and held the visiting Blue Rocks (58-70, 20-38) scoreless over the first four before allowing a run in the fifth and sixth innings. He struck out two, allowed two runs, walked three and gave up seven hits all while suffering his third straight loss.

Mills (W, 7-6, 2.99) earned the win and did so while scattering four hits, striking out six and keeping the Mudcats without a run over six and 2/3 innings pitched.

Dustin Peterson had a two-out single against Mills in the first, but was left on in the scoreless frame. Jacob Schrader led off the second with a single, and like Peterson, was also left on base. Peterson and Schrader were both 2-for-4 in the loss.

Wilmington catcher Cam Gallagher was 1-for-4 in the game and his leadoff double in the fifth eventually led to the first run of the game. He scored on a two-out single by Carlos Garcia in the fifth and the Blue Rocks took the 1-0 lead at the midway point of the game.

The lead stretched to 2-0 in the sixth when Alfredeo Escalera knocked in Ryan O'Hearn and knocked out Walters with a RBI single to left.

O'Hearn struck again in the eighth with a two-run home run off reliever Andy Otero and Wilmington went up 4-0 in the game. The home run was O'Hearn's seventh Carolina League homer and the first allowed by Otero in 2015. O'Hearn was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI for the Blue Rocks.

Otero originally entered in the sixth in place of Walters and left two inherited runners on base. He stayed in for the seventh and eighth and finished with two runs allowed over two and 1/3 innings. Otero also struck out three and allowed just two hits.

Carlos Salazar pitched the ninth and allowed one run and walked two. He did not give up a hit in his inning and struck out one.

Reliever Luis Rico finished the game for the Blue Rocks and held the Mudcats scoreless over the final two and 1/3 innings while earning his fourth save of the season.

The Mudcats fell to 0-49 this season when trailing after the eighth inning with the loss.

They continue their final home stand of the season on Thursday night with game one of a four game series with the Lynchburg Hillcats at Five County Stadium. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Zebulon.

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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