June 12 - Mudcats Game Notes

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CAROLINA MUDCATS (MIL) at SALEM RED SOX (BOS)
Monday, June 12, 2017 | 7:05 PM
Game 63, Away Game 29
at Haley Toyota Field (6,300)
RADIO: The Big Dawg 98.5 FM, WDWG 
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 33-29; SAL: 39-24
Streaks: CAR: L2; SAL: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 5-5, SAL: 6-4    
Home Record: CAR: 19-15; SAL: 19-13
Road Record: CAR: 14-14; SAL: 20-11
Division Record: CAR: 22-17; SAL: 21-16    
Current Series: First game (of 3)
Season Series: First game (of 9)
CAR vs. OPP: 0-0 @CAR (3), 0-0 @OPP (6) 

UPCOMING PROBABLES:
MON, 6/12, 7:05 PM: Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (4-2, 5.03) at Salem LHP Matthew Kent (4-2, 4.21)
TUE, 6/13, 7:05 PM: Carolina RHP Freddy Peralta (0-3, 2.81) at Salem RHP Shaun Anderson (0-1, 5.01)
WED, 6/14, 7:05 PM: Carolina LHP Kodi Medeiros (3-4, 5.05) at Salem RHP Roniel Raudes (2-2, 4.60)
ICYMI: Troy Stokes Jr. hit his ninth home run of the season, but the Pelicans scored four runs in the first and two more in the seventh while taking Sunday's series finale 6-1 at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach. 
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Mudcats combined to go just 2-for-25 with runners in scoring position during their last series in Myrtle Beach against the Pelicans. They also combined to strand 29 batters over the four game set while finishing at just 1-3… Carolina scored a total seven runs over the four game series, with six of the seven all scoring on home runs.
SEEING STARS: Isan Díaz, Jake Gatewood, Nate Griep, Freddy Peralta, Cody Ponce and Corey Ray were all selected to the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 20 at Haley Toyota Field in Salem, VA. Carolina's six All-Star selections gives them the most among the Southern Division teams. It also matches them with the Northern Division's Wilmington Blue Rocks for the most overall All-Star selections for a team in the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Classic. 
CHASE FOR FIRST: The second place Mudcats enter tonight's game in Salem 3.5 game back of the first place Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the Carolina League Southern Division first half standings. Carolina's first half elimination number is down to four (4) with seven games remaining… The Mudcats have not had sole possession of first place yet this season, but were as close as a half game back of first on 6/2... The Mudcats last sat alone atop the Carolina League Southern Division on 4/15/16 (6-3)… The Mudcats last reached the playoffs in 2008 while a member of the Southern League as the Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins.
STARTING OFF: Marcos Diplan has the series opening start in Salem tonight against the Carolina League Northern Division leading Red Sox. Diplan is 4-2 and has pitched to a 5.03 ERA over 11 games and seven starts for the Mudcats this season. He has also totaled 53 strikeouts against 24 walks and has a .267 average against over 48.1 innings this season. Diplan last pitched on 6/6 in game two of a doubleheader against the Dash and managed to earn his second straight win after allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over 5.0 innings pitched. He also matched a season high with seven strikeouts his last time out and walked two. Diplan is 2-1 with a 4.60 ERA over his last three starts (15.2 IP, 14 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 9 BB, 16 SO).
WALK THIS WAY: Trent Clark has reached base via walk 12 times over his last 12 games and is batting .200 with a .419 OBP since 5/31. Clark is currently 2nd in MiLB in walks since 5/31 (12) and is 2nd in the Carolina League in base on balls overall this season (42). Clark is also 5th in MiLB in walks (41) so far in 2017.
TWO-OUT RIBEYES: Jake Gatewood has totaled 33 RBIs this season, with 16 of the 33 RBIs coming in 2-out situations. Gatewood currently leads the Mudcats with 16 2-out RBIs this season. Troy Stokes Jr. is second with 14 2-out RBIs and Isan Diaz and Lucas Erceg are third with 13 2-out RBIs this year.
ALL THE HBs: The Carolina pitching staff leads the CL in most hit batters with 51 HB this season. They are also 2nd in MiLB in most hit batters so far in 2017. The Greensboro Grasshoppers (SAL) lead MiLB in most HB with 56 this year.
WHERE THEY RANK: Jake Gatewood leads the Carolina League in games played (62) and is currently 4th in the CL in runs scored (41), 4th in hits (69), 2nd in doubles (21), 3rd in XBH (30) and tied for 4th in HR (9)… Isan Diaz is currently tied for 8th in extra-base hits (21), tied for 4th in home runs (9) and tied for 2nd in games (61)… Troy Stokes Jr. is tied for 4th in the CL in home runs (9), tied for 8th in extra-base hits (21), tied for 6th steals (12) and tied for 2nd in games (61)… Nate Griep leads the CL in saves (12) and games finished (19)… Cody Ponce is currently 2nd in the Carolina League in innings pitched (73.0) and 2nd in lowest BB-IBB/9ip ratio (1.23)… Corey Ray and Luis Aviles Jr. are tied for 4th in the CL in stolen bases (14)… Trent Clark is 2nd in the CL in walks (41) and tied for 5th in stolen bases (13).
HEATING UP: Weston Wilson has hit safely in five straight games and is batting .400/.400/.550 over his last five (8-for-20, 0 R, 3 2B, 2 RBI)… Jake Gatewood was 3-for-4 with two home runs on Saturday night and is batting .333/.383/.548 over his last 12 games (14 H, 7 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI).
THE HAVES:
- The Mudcats have combined to hit just .213 since 5/25 (8-8, 3.75 R/G, -13 DIFF)
- The Mudcats have won 21 of their last 33 and 19 of their last 30.
- The Mudcats have averaged 4.5 runs/game and are 21-12 since 5/7.
- The Mudcats have a +6 run differential and are 21-12 since 5/7.
- The Mudcats have pitched to a 3.59 ERA and are 21-12 since 5/7.
- The Mudcats have totaled a league high 82 stolen bases this season.
- The Mudcats have been intentionally walked a CL and MiLB high 14 times this season.
- The Mudcats have gone 21-13 since Jake Gatewood took over the cleanup spot in the lineup.
QUICK HITS:
- This is the 27th season of Mudcats baseball in Zebulon & 6th season of Mudcats baseball in the Carolina League.
- The Mudcats were 2nd in MiLB and led the Carolina League with 14 doubleheaders (10-18) last season.
- The 2016 Mudcats finished the season at 52-87, matching the club record for fewest wins in franchise history.
- Milwaukee's previous High-A team (Brevard County) finished with the worst record in MiLB last season (40-97).
- The Mudcats last reached the playoffs in 2008 while a member of the Southern League (Double-A, Florida Marlins).
- Affiliates: Pirates: 91-98. Rockies: 99-02. Marlins: 03-08. Reds: 09-11. Indians: 12-14. Braves: 15-17. Brewers: 2017-