Showing posts tagged “Carson Kainer”
Mike Potter ·
6 Sep 2009, 3:54 AM ·
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A walk-off single from Logan Parker (pictured) completed a late comeback, giving the Carolina Mudcats a 3-2 win over the visiting Mississippi Braves on Saturday night.
The Braves began the scoring with a pair of fifth-inning runs off starter Alexander Smit, on an RBI double from Concepcion Rodriguez followed by an RBI single from Brandon Hicks.
Mississippi starter Jose Ortegano carried a shutout into the eighth before Carson Kainer’s single started a two-run rally. A wild pitch and walk followed, before a one-out RBI single from Kris Negron chased the starter. Shaun Cumberland’s infield hit tied the score.
In the ninth, Zack Cozart singled and took second on an error. Eric Eymann’s single moved Cozart to third to set up Parker’s heroics.
Zach Ward (2-4) was the winning pitcher.
The series continues tonight at 6:15, with Jerry Gil (2-4, 9.57) on the mound for the Mudcats.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alexander Smit, Atlanta Braves, Carson Kainer, Cincinnati Reds, Eric Eymann, Jerry Gil, Jose Ortegano, Kris Negron, Logan Parker, Mississippi Braves, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Zach Ward, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
22 Aug 2009, 11:37 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats return home for the opener of a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies that will comprise the entire homestand.
It’s bordering on time for the end-of-season “death watch” for the Mudcats, as their tragic number for elimination from playoff contention is down to seven with 15 games left in the season. Carolina would just about have to run the table and get help from at least three teams.
The Cincinnati Reds’ organization is acutely aware of the situation, so any Mudcat who deserves promotion to Triple-A is headed for Louisville to help the Bats try to win a Governors’ Cup. Todd Frazier (pictured) is the latest to make the jump, making the number 11 of current Bats players I have covered as a home beat writer at some point.
The Bats really may have about 1/3 of this season’s Southern League post-season all-star team on their roster, since they already had SL home-run leader Juan Francisco, the SL’s best pitcher in Travis Wood and perhaps the SL’s best player in Chris Heisey in the clubhouse. If you think I don’t want Louisville to visit Durham in the playoffs this season, try again.
Anyway, it’s dark and rainy all the way over here from Brier Creek, but the game starts a reasonable 23 minutes late.
Grab an Italian sausage and let’s go.
Tennessee, which eventually wins this one 5-4, takes the early lead with a two-run second inning off Luis Montano. Tyler Colvin leads off with a double to left, moving to third on Ty Wright’s sacrifice bunt to third. Tony Thomas scores Colvin on a two-out double off the wall in left, followed by pitcher Chris Carpenter’s RBI double to right.
Carolina goes ahead with a three-run rally in the fourth.
Jose Castro leads off with a single to left, and after a Shaun Cumberland single to left and a walk to Zack Cozart the bases are literally full of “Cs.” With one out, Logan Parker hits a two-run single to right, and then Carson Kainer puts the home team ahead with another single to right.
Tennessee takes the lead again with a two-out rally in the sixth. Wright doubles to left, followed by Welington Castillo’s RBI single to left. Thomas then smacks an RBI single to left.
The Mudcats tie it in the bottom, as Cozart walks, steals second, advances on Alex Maestri’s wild pitch and scores on Kainer’s one-out sac fly to center.
But Tennessee takes the lead again in the seventh, as Jim Adduci reaches on a fielder’s choice following Jonathan Mota’s single, followed by Starlin Castro’s RBI double to right for the game-winning run.
Here’s what they said …
Mudcats manager David Bell: “Montano was good. In several of his outings he’s struggled for the first couple of innings and then settled down and gotten the job done. It was a good game, but we just didn’t win. There should always be enough motivation to go out and try to win every game, no matter what the standings say.”
Parker: “When you’re in this position (in the standings), you just have to forget about how the team’s doing and motivate yourself every day. We had a great team in the first half and didn’t make the playoffs because we lost the last series to Tennessee. That’s something we need to be thinking about when we play them.”
Cozart: “It’s always important to finish the season strong, even if the team hasn’t been winning. And if you go out and play a good game yourself, that’s going to give the team a better chance to win.”
What does it all mean?
That the tragic number is now five, while Tennessee is a game behind West Tenn for the division lead.
Stars of the game
1. Thomas, with three hits including a double for two RBI.
2. Parker, for two hits and two RBI.
3. Carpenter, for a respectable start and a clutch hit.
Play of the game
Starlin Castro’s game-winning double.
Season series
Tennessee leads 15-11.
Streaks
Carolina: Lost 2.
Tennessee: Won 1.
Transactions
Carolina: Outfielder Todd Frazier promoted to Louisville. Infielder Kristopher Negron promoted to Carolina from Sarasota.
Tennessee: none.
On deck
Tennessee at Carolina, Sunday, 2 p.m.
Jeremy Papelbon (L, 4-5, 3.26) vs. Tom Cochran (L, 4-5, 3.29)
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alex Maestri, Carson Kainer, Chicago Cubs, Chris Carpenter, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, International League, Jeremy Papelbon, Jim Adduci, Jonathan Mota, Jose Castro, Juan Francisco, Kristopher Negron, Logan Parker, Louisville Bats, Luis Montano, Sarasota Reds, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Starlin Castro, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Tony Thomas, Travis Wood, Ty Wright, Tyler Colvin, Welington Castillo, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
15 Aug 2009, 10:59 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats host Game 4 of their five-game series with the Birmingham Barons, and with a four-game losing streak they’re pretty much playing for pride in the series.
If they don’t start a winning tear pretty soon, they could be playing for pride in the Southern League’s North Division standings as well. Carolina’s “tragic number” is 14 for elimination from the playoff race.
Birmingham, of course, is running away with the best record in the league.
There are ominously dark clouds in the sky before game time, but it becomes obvious that there isn’t going to be a threat of rain.
Grab an Italian sausage and let’s play ball.
This time the Mudcats hit Birmingham starter Kyle McCulloch early and hard, striking for four runs in the second inning. And the run of timely hitting is a beautiful thing for a decent home crowd to watch, eventually leading to - yes indeed, boys and girls - an 8-1 Mudcats romp.
With one out, Sean Henry reaches on an infield hit, followed by Stephen Chapman’s single to right. Carson Kainer follows with an RBI single to left. With two out, Korey Feiner hits a two-run single to right. And after Jake Kahaulelio (pictured) reaches on an infield single to third, Shaun Cumberland brings home Feiner with a hit to left to make it 4-0. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Birmingham Barons, Camilo Vazquez, Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Donny Lucy, Greg Atencio, Jake Kahaulelio, Jake Long, John Lujan, John Shelby, Juan Francisco, Korey Feiner, Kyle McCulloch, Miguel Gonzalez, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Stephen Chapman
Mike Potter ·
14 Aug 2009, 11:59 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Time for Game 3 of the Carolina Mudcats’ five-game home series against the Birmingham Barons, and the hole seems to be getting deeper all the time for the home team.
The Barons are the Southern League’s best team with over twice as many wins as losses, while Carolina is in last place in the North Division, nine games behind the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts with a “tragic number” of 15 for elimination from the playoff race.
This is a crazy stat. Two teams out of the 10-team Southern League have records over .500, and the season may well finish that way. Birmingham comes into the contest 40 games over the break-even mark. And things don’t get any better for the red, black and white tonight as Birmingham wins 11-6.
It’s a bit of a saga for me to get over here from Brier Creek tonight. I-540 is a parking lot in Western Wake county, and there’s a pretty heavy thunderstorm in the middle of my trip.
But all of that means I get to the park 40 minutes before first pitch instead of about 75, and the game is going to start on time.
Grab a cheeseburger and let’s go.
Birmingham wastes no time getting on the board against Zack Ward, as C.J. Retherford draws a one-out walk and scores on David Cook’s two-out single to left center.
The Mudcats really get it going in the bottom of the second off John Ely. Todd Frazier draws a one-out walk and scores on Carson Kainer’s two-out double that goes off the glove of diving center fielder Jordan Danks. Logan Parker (pictured) adds an RBI double, and after Jason Bour walks Sean Henry hits an RBI single to left center and the homeboys are up 3-1. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Adam Ricks, Andy Tomberlin, Birmingham Barons, C.J. Retherford, Camilo Vazquez, Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, David Cook, Ever Magallanes, J.R. Pedew, Jason Bour, Jerry Gil, Jim Gallagher, John Ely, Jordan Danks, Justin Tordi, Kyle McCulloch, Lee Cruz, Logan Parker, Matthew Zaleski, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Todd Frazier, Zack Ward
Mike Potter ·
8 Aug 2009, 8:20 AM ·
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About the only good thing about Friday night for the Carolina Mudcats was an offense that got cranked up far too late.
The Mudcats allowed a franchise record number of runs during the longest road loss in their club history, falling to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 20-9.
Carolina has now lost six of its last seven games,
West Tenn scored six times in the second inning off Zach Ward (0-2), and then added six more in the third off Chris Kelly - who was ejected from the game as was Carolina manager David Bell (pictured) - to get off to a 15-1 lead.
Carolina used six pitchers in the 20-hit, 11-walk debacle that lasted 4:00. The final two were position players Carson Kainer and Justin Tordi.
Johan Limonta led West Tenn with a 5-for-5 night that included a double, a triple and a walk with three RBIs, with N.C. State alum Mark Mangini kicking in a homer and a double for four RBI.
Juan Francisco doubled three times for the Mudcats, while Logan Parker hit his fourth homer of the season.
The teams will play the third game of their current five-game set tonight at 8:05, with southpaw Tom Cochran (3-4, 3.66) on the hill for Carolina.
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, N.C. State Carson Kainer, Chris Kelly, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Johan Limonta, Juan Francisco, Justin Tordi, Logan Parker, Mark Mangini, Seattle Mariners, Southern League, Tom Cochran, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Zach Ward
Mike Potter ·
30 Jul 2009, 11:54 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s Game 4 of the Carolina Mudcats’ five-game series with the Chattanooga Lookouts, and the home team is on a bit of a roll after winning back-to-back close games.
Tonight is “Pack the Park” night, with N.C. State football coach Tom O’Brien and former standout wide receiver Alvis Whitted scheduled to throw out two of the many ceremonial “first pitches.” It’s also “Thirsty Thursday.”
I hear from a club employee that a lot of the lower-level staffers who attended rival schools -I’m guessing maybe that means UNC or ECU given the geography - aren’t keen on the idea of wearing Wolfpack red and are settling for Mudcats red instead.
It could be an interesting night since Tim Corcoran, a popular former Mudcat from last season who played for the Durham Bulls a few years ago, is on the mound for the Lookouts.
Corcoran, who played here only the second half of last season after coming off elbow surgery, has been with Chattanooga all season and in and out of the bullpen after signing with the Dodgers in a free-agent tryout in spring training. And he turns out to be the winner as his team scores early and survives 3-2. Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Duke, Durham Bulls, Football, N.C. State Alberto Bastardo, Alvis Whitted, Andrew Lambo, Atlanta Braves, California League, Camilo Vazquez, Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chris Denove, Cincinnati Reds, Gaby Martinez, Huntsville Stars, Inland Empire 66ers, International League, Jacksonville Suns, James Tomlin, Jesus Rodriguez, Juan Francisco, Logan Parker, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lucas May, Richmond Braves, Scott Carroll, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Tim Corcoran, Tom O'Brien, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Zach Schreiber
Mike Potter ·
29 Jul 2009, 12:32 AM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats come into Game 2 of their current five-game homestand against the Chattanooga Lookouts needing as many victories as they can get.
The Mudcats lost the first-half race in the Southern League’s North Division by just one game to the Huntsville Stars, but have started slow in the second half and come into the contest in last place.
Carolina is still in second place in the full-season division standings, but unless they either win the second half or Huntsville does that figure is completely meaningless.
It’s mostly sunny and warm, and after some chicken tenders I’m ready to go and so are the boys.
It’s a pitchers’ duel early and late, but it turns into a saga before the Mudcats win 5-4 in 13 on late heroics from Juan Francisco (pictured).
Carolina gets on the board first against Jesus Castillo in the second. Justin Tordi draws a leadoff walk and advances on a bunt from pitcher Matt Klinker before Stephen Chapman deposits the next pitch over the Catfish Corner fence in right. Then with two out Francisco lifts his first pitch just over the wall in left.
Chattanooga rallies for one in the fifth, as James Tomlin reaches on a bad-hop triple to right and scores on Justin Sellers’ bouncer to third.
And the pitchers’ duel resumes after that.
Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Duke Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Gabe Gutierrez, Huntsville Stars, Jake Kahaulelio, James Adkins, James Tomlin, Jerry Gil, Jesus Castillo, Joe Krebs, Juan Francisco, Justin Sellers, Justin Tordi, Logan Parker, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Klinker, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Tom Cochran, Victor Garate, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Zach Schreiber
Mike Potter ·
27 Jul 2009, 11:46 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s Game 1 of the Carolina Mudcats’ series with the Chattanooga Lookouts, and the first time I’ve been able to make it out here in 20 days.
I had scheduled a multi-day event with some extended family to coincide with a hole in the Durham Bulls schedule before I was shown the door by the Incredible Shrinking Herald-Sun in May, so I was away for the whole series the last time Chattanooga was here July 15-21.
Chattanooga won that series, although the Mudcats won the final two games of the five-game set.
Incidentally, seems budget cuts are everywhere. There’s a new system for obtaining sodas that has been the talk of the press box. But at least they’re free, so if that’s the worst thing that happens to me for a while life is pretty OK.
Anyway, I’ll go with the Italian sausage tonight, fortunately the rains are holding off now and it’s game time.
There are a couple of local favorites on the visiting roster tonight. Duke alumnus Zach Schreiber, who was with the old Richmond Braves all last season, is in the Lookouts’ bullpen along with Tim Corcoran, who was a Mudcat most of last season and was with the Durham Bulls in 2004-05.
Chattanooga gets to Lee Tabor pretty quickly in the first inning, scoring two runs en route to its 3-0 victory. Adam Godwin (pictured) leads off with a single to left, advances on James Tomlin’s sacrifice bunt to first and scores on Andrew Lambo’s single to right. Josh Bell singles to left center and Lucas May hits a two-out single to right center before Juan Gonzalez draws the bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0. Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Duke, Durham Bulls Adam Godwin, Andrew Lambo, Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, Enerio Del Rosario, Gabe Martinez, Jake Kahaulelio, James Tomlin, Jerry Gil, Jesus Castillo, John Valentin, Josh Bell, Juan Gonzalez, Lee Tabor, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lucas May, Matthew Klinker, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Tim Corcoran, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Zach Schreiber
Mike Potter ·
19 Jul 2009, 10:59 PM ·
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The Travis Wood Express continues for the Carolina Mudcats.
The Mudcats’ homestand ended on a high note behind the left arm of Wood (pictured), as Carolina whipped the Chattanooga Lookouts 6-1 at Five County Stadium for its second straight win.
Wood (9-3) has now won a club-record nine straight decisions. In today’s game, he fired seven shutout innings, striking out eight without a walk. He also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second inning.
Carolina had a balanced offense, led by Carson Kainer who went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI singles, while Korey Feiner and Todd Frazier each chipped in an RBI hit. Stephen Chapman went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Following an off-day on Monday the Mudcats - who are currently seven games out of first place in the Southern League’s North Division - travel to Huntsville for a five-game series with the first-half champion Stars beginning Tuesday night.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, Huntsville Stars, Korey Feiner, Los Angeles Dodgers, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Todd Frazier, Travis Wood
Mike Potter ·
7 Jul 2009, 4:14 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Back for the finale of the Carolina Mudcats’ short four-game homestand against the Tennessee Smokies, and the home team finally has a bit of momentum following Monday night’s 8-1 whipping of the boys from Sevierville.
They’re still in last place in the Southern League’s North Division, but less than 20 percent of the second half has been played.
It’s getaway day for Tennessee, and although it’s going to be a hot one neither team is going to squeal about a noon start. The Smokies are home Wednesday against Montgomery, while Carolina will have the day off and leave for Thursday’s contest at Jacksonville.
In an aside it’s going to be a long day for me, as I’ll be covering the Durham Bulls’ home game with Gwinnett seven hours and five minutes after the start of this one. The trip is right at 50 miles.
Smokies manager Ryne Sandberg is in Game 2 of a three-game Southern League suspension for altercations with umpires.
And a particularly fun thing going on in the press areas is a “broadcaster camp” being conducted by Mudcats play-by-play guy Patrick Kinas, who also does play-by-play for N.C. State women’s basketball among other duties (I too, now have several jobs.)
The campers are rotating some play-by-play stints on the internet broadcast, and some of them off-air are doing simulations in another box. That, of course, has the potential of ending up like the scene in “The Naked Gun” when Dick Vitale, Dick Enberg, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Dr. Joyce Brothers and the late Messrs. Curt Gowdy and Mel Allen all start commentating at once.
But about the game … well, Carolina wins 6-0.
The Mudcats get to Jay Jackson for a run in the first, as Carson Kainer hits a one-out single to right, advances on Juan Francisco’s infield single to second and later scores on a two-out balk. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alex Maestri, Carson Kainer, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Curt Gowdy, David Bell, Dick Enberg, Dick Vitale, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Durham Bulls, Eric Eymann, Gwinnett Braves, Jacksonville Suns, Jay Jackson, Jeremy Hellickson, Jim Palmer, Juan Francisco, Korey Feiney, Logan Parker, Marcos Mateo, Mel Allen, Montgomery Biscuits, Patrick Kinas, Ryne Sandberg, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, The Naked Gun, Tim McCarver, Travis Wood, Zack Cozart
