Showing posts tagged “Jose Castro”
Mike Potter ·
3 Sep 2009, 11:32 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s the opener of the Carolina Mudcats’ final series of the season, a five-game set against the Mississippi Braves that will conclude with an afternoon game on Labor Day.
Frankly it doesn’t mean much except for individual statistics. The Mudcats are in last place in the Southern League’s North Division - although only a game and a half behind the fourth-place Huntsville Stars, who are playoff-bound after edging out Carolina by a single game to win the first half.
Mississippi will finish with a winning half unless the Mudcats really do some butt-kicking over the next five days, but the Braves are solidly in third place in the South and most of them will be headed back to their hometowns after a long bus ride following Monday’s contest.
But both teams have been playing out the string very well, as each comes in with a three-game winning streak.
With the Southern League’s wildly-unbalanced schedule, it’s Mississippi’s only visit to North Carolina this season - only the Tennessee Smokies, Jacksonville Suns and Huntsville visited Zebulon for more than a single five-game series.
That’s too bad for one particular reason, because colorful Mississippi manager Phillip Wellman, who played for the Durham Bulls in the late ’80s and coached there in the early ’90s, is in town just once.
Both rosters are pretty depleted as the Cincinnati Reds try to bolster Louisville and the Atlanta Braves do the same for Gwinnett in an attempt to win the International League’s Governors’ Cup.
The Mudcats will have a quality pitcher on the mound tonight in southpaw Matt Maloney (pictured), who was sent directly down from Cincinnati apparently for just this one outing to keep him fresh.
Fortunately it’s a beautiful night for, well, anything. And the Mudcats end up winning 6-5 with a bottom-of-the-ninth rally.
Let’s grab an Italian sausage - I’m going to be missing those things all winter but it’s not as if I need them - and play ball. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Atlanta Braves, Brandon Hicks, Cincinnati Reds, Cody Johnson, David Bell, Durham Bulls, Eric Eymann, Gwinnett Braves, Huntsville Stars, International League, Jacksonville Suns, Jason Bour, Jason Heyward, Jose Camarena, Jose Castro, Josh Beal, Kody Kirkland, Kris Negron, Kyle Cofield, Logan Parker, Louisville Bats, Luis Montano, Matt Maloney, Mississippi Braves, Phillip Wellman, Sean Henry, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Tim Gustafson, Zach Ward, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
1 Sep 2009, 1:56 AM ·
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It’s too bad for the Carolina Mudcats they didn’t have a doubleheader like this a month ago, when it could have helped them in the pennant race.
Two shutouts in one night.
Alexander Smit (pictured) and Joe Krebs each started shutout wins as the Mudcats beat the homestanding Montgomery Biscuits 1-0 and 5-0 on Monday night.
Smit (4-3) pitched six innings in the Game 1 win while Sean Watson came on for the seventh for his sixth save.
Carolina scored the run in the third, on a Jose Castro single that scored Jake Long.
In the nightcap, the Mudcats scored three runs in the third off Alex Torres (0-1) on a Yonder Alonso single followed by Zack Cozart’s two-run homer and never looked back.
Zach Ward (1-4) picked up the win.
Carolina had two transactions on Monday, as infielder Eric Eymann was sent down from Triple-A Louisville, while infielder Justin Tordi has been sent down to Sarasota.
Carolina plays its final road game of the season tonight at 8:05, with Jeremy Horst (0-3, 9.20) on the hill. The Mudcats return home Thursday night for the opener of a five-game set against the Mississippi Braves.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alex Torres, Alexander Smit, Cincinnati Reds, Eric Eymann, Jake Long, Jeremy Horst, Joe Krebs, Jose Castro, Justin Tordi, Louisville Bats, Mississippi Braves, Montgomery Biscuits, Sarasota Reds, Sean Watson, Southern League, Tampa Bay Rays, Yonder Alonzo, Zach Ward, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
29 Aug 2009, 11:53 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ road doldrums continued at Montgomery, as the Biscuits rolled to an 8-1 win in Game 2 of their five-game set.
Jason Perry (pictured) hit a three-run homer while Matt Spring added a three-run double for the winners.
Ryan Morse (4-6) was the winning pitcher while Jerry Gil (2-4) took the loss as the Mudcats dropped their third straight.
Carolina got its only run on a bases-loaded walk to Zack Cozart in the third inning. Jose Castro singled twice in the Mudcats’ five-hit attack.
The series continues Sunday at 3:05 p.m., with Camilo Vazquez (5-4, 5.29) going for Carolina against southpaw Brandon Mann (6-8, 4.30).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Add new tag, Brandon Mann, Camilo Vazquez, Cincinnati Reds, Jason Perry, Jerry Gil, Jose Castro, Matt Spring, Montgomery Biscuits, Ryan Morse, Southern League, Tampa Bay Rays, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
25 Aug 2009, 11:56 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The “death march” is on for the Carolina Mudcats.
They go into tonight’s game with the Tennessee Smokies, who are tied for first place in the Southern League’s North Division, with a “tragic number” of two for elimination from the playoff race.
Barring about the biggest miracle in the history of sports that’s inevitable before the end of the season, but it’s a fact that no matter what happens today the Mudcats will go into every game the rest of the year knowing tomorrow’s game could be just for pride.
The Mudcats have yet another transaction as Louisville’s roster gets set for the almost certain Governors’ Cup Playoff spot, as catcher Korey Feiner is now in Triple-A.
There’s not going to be much of a crowd in the house tonight, so let’s grab an Italian sausage and play.
It’s a welcome relief for the home fans, as Camilo Vazquez (pictured) is absolutely dealing to start the game and his teammates are scoring runs. And it all turns out happy this time as the Mudcats hang on for a 7-6 win.
Carolina gets to Hung-Wen Chen for a run in the first as Kris Negron leads off with an infield hit, followed by Jose Castro’s single to center and Yonder Alonzo’s sacrifice fly to left.
And the Mudcats pour on four more runs in the second. Shaun Cumberland leads off with a double to right and steals third. Sean Henry follows with a walk and a steal before Logan Parker’s RBI grounder to short. Jake Long hits an RBI single to left, then moves over on Vazquez’s bunt to third. Negron - an American who after the game tries a clubhouse prank of pretending to need a translator - then blasts the next pitch off the left-field scoreboard to make it 5-0.
The Smokies figure out Vazquez with one out in the sixth. Jim Adduci starts the rally with an infield hit to third, followed by Ty Wright’s RBI double to right. With two out, Tyler Colvin hits an RBI single to right, and after Marquez Smith walks Welington Castillo hits an RBI double to left to chase the starter and bring on Ruben Medina.
Tennessee adds another in the seventh, as pinch-hitter Doug Deeds singles and later scores on Blake Lalli’s two-out single to left.
But Negron and the Mudcats get some insurance in the seventh, as Long leads off with a double to left and scores when Negron blasts a 2-1 offering off the net protecting the numbers on the scoreboard in left.
Carolina turns out to need the insurance because of the Tennessee eighth. With one out, Castillo singles up the middle and then Tony Thomas hits a ball toward second baseman Negron who commits two errors on the play. With runners on second and third pinch hitter Russ Canzler reaches on another error by shortstop Cozart, with two runs scoring to make it 7-6.
And there’s some loud and celebrative - although not particularly tasteful - music in the home clubhouse after the win.
Here’s what they said …
Mudcats manager David Bell: “Negron is really athletic and exciting. Vazquez has been doing a great job, especially since he’s been starting. I think he’s opened some eyes. I like hearing that music. This game’s a lot more fun when you win.”
Negron: “I didn’t think either one of those balls was going to go out. I’m more of a little guy than a home-run hitter.”
Vazquez: “I thought it was a pretty good outing until the sixth. Guys were doing their jobs and making plays behind me. I wanted to finish the inning, but they made the right call in taking me out.”
What does it all mean?
That the Mudcats are still not mathematically eliminated from the race, and that Tennessee is tied for second a game back of division leader West Tenn.
Stars of the game
1. Negron, for his two homers and the infield hit.
2. Vazquez, for the solid start and the win.
3. Castillo, for his three hits including two doubles with an RBI.
Play of the game
Negron’s second homer that provided the game-winning run.
Season series
Tennessee leads 17-12.
Streaks
Carolina: Won 1.
Tennessee: Lost 1.
Transactions
Carolina: C Korey Feiner promoted to Louisville. C Jake Long promoted from Sarasota to Carolina.
Tennessee: none.
On deck
Tennessee at Carolina, Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.
Casey Coleman (R, 13-6, 3.83) vs. Alexander Smit (L, 3-3, 4.06)
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alexander Smit, Camilo Vazquez, Casey Coleman, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Doug Deeds, Jake Long, Jose Castro, Korey Feiner, Kris Negron, Logan Parker, Louisville Bats, Marquez Smith, Ruben Medina, Russ Canzler, Sarasota Reds, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Tony Thomas, Ty Wright, Tyler Colvin, Welington Castillo, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Yonder Alonzo
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 ·
25 Jul 2009, 3:48 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ ace pitcher finally got his promotion.
Southpaw Travis Wood has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville, and scheduled to make his International League debut at Syracuse tonight at 7.
Wood is currently leading the Southern League in ERA (1.21) and strikeouts (103), and is on a nine-game winning streak. The win streak is the longest in Mudcats history, while the ERA is by far the best for any Mudcats pitcher throwing over 90 innings. Ryan Tucker had a 1.58 ERA last season.
Southpaw Lee Tabor has been reinstated from the temporary inactive list and is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener against Chattanooga at Five County Stadium.
Catcher Chris Denove has also been actvated, with catcher Korey Feiner going onto the disabled list.
Also, infielder Jose Castro has been placed on the seven-day DL after straining his right calf muscle on Friday night at Huntsville.
Baseball, Carolina Hurricanes, Uncategorized Chattanooga Lookouts, Chris Denove, Huntsville Stars, International League, Jose Castro, Korey Feiner, Lee Tabor, Louisville Bats, Ryan Tucker, Southern League, Syracuse Chiefs, Travis Wood
Mike Potter ·
24 Jul 2009, 11:59 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ hot streak continues.
Juan Francisco (pictured) had a four-hit night, with a pair of homers and three RBI, leading the Mudcats to a 7-5 win over the host Huntsville Stars at Joe Davis Stadium.
Todd Frazier had a two-run shot in the first inning for Carolina (12-17) which won for the third time in four tries in the current series.
Carolina has now pulled into a tie with the Stars for fourth place in the Southern League’s North Division, four games behind the first place West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
Scott Carroll, making his Double-A debut, lasted just two-plus innings before leaving the game with an injury. The Mudcats’ Jose Castro also left the game early with what appeared to be a knee injury.
Jerry Gil (1-1) worked four scoreless innings to pick up his first win as a Mudcat.
The road trip concludes with a 7 p.m. (EDT) contest Saturday night, with Camilo Vazquez (2-2, 5.53) taking on the Stars’ David Welch (4-7, 5.06).
Carolina will have an off-day on Sunday before taking on the Chattanooga Lookouts on Monday at 7:15 in the opener of a five-game homestand at Five County Stadium.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Camilo Vazquez, Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, David Welch, Huntsville Stars, Jerry Gil, Jose Castro, Juan Francisco, Milwaukee Brewers, Scott Carroll, Southern League, Todd Frazier, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
Mike Potter ·
23 Jul 2009, 11:40 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ bats were on fire tonight.
Stephen Chapman (pictured) hit a three-run homer in the third inning, the biggest blow in a 15-hit attack as the Mudcats topped the host Huntsville Stars 8-4 at Joe Davis Stadium.
Tom Cochran (3-3) won his second straight start, allowing five hits and three runs in five-plus innings and also collecting his first hit as a pro.
Logan Parker added three hits for Carolina while Chapman, Jose Castro, Todd Frazier and Korey Feiner each had two.
The win moved the Mudcats to within five games of first-place West Tenn in the Southern League’s North Division.
Game 4 of the five-game set is Friday night at 8 (EDT), with Scott Carroll making his Double-A debut against the Stars’ Mark Holliman (7-3, 4.57).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Cincinnati Reds, Huntsville Stars, Jose Castro, Korey Feiner, Logan Parker, Mark Holliman, Milwaukee Brewers, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
Mike Potter ·
22 Jul 2009, 11:48 PM ·
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Sam Narron didn’t pout after being sent down from Triple-A.
The lefty out of East Carolina took his frustrations out on the Carolina Mudcats.
Narron (pictured) won his first decision since being demoted from Nashville, taking a shutout into the eighth inning as the Huntsville Stars topped the visiting Mudcats 6-1 at Joe Davis Stadium.
Drew Anderson had a homer and three singles to lead the Stars’ offense.
Matt Klinker (3-2) took his second straight loss for Carolina, which is in last place in the Southern League’s North Division and six games out of first.
Lorenzo Cain had an inside-the-park homer for the home team in the third inning, as Carolina’s Sean Henry crashed into the center field wall while trying to make the catch.
Narron, a native of Goldsboro, allowed an unearned run on five hits and struck out seven without a walk in his 7 2/3 innings on the mound.
Jose Castro and Juan Francisco had two hits each for Carolina.
The third game of the series is tonight at 8 (EDT), with Tom Cochran (2-3, 3.30) set to go against Donovan Hand (8-2, 3.12).
The Mudcats had a pair of transactions on Wednesday, as southpaw Lee Tabor was placed on the temporary inactive list while Scott Carroll - the Reds’ third-round pick in the 2007 draft - was promoted from Sarasota.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Cincinnati Reds, Donovan Hand, Drew Anderson, East Carolina, Florida State League, Goldsboro, Huntsville Stars, Jose Castro, Juan Francisco, Lee Tabor, Lorenzo Cain, Matt Klinker, Nashville Sounds, Pacific Coast League, Sam Narron, Sarasota Reds, Scott Carroll, Sean Henry, Southern League, Tom Cochran
Mike Potter ·
15 Jul 2009, 11:28 PM ·
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J.D. Durbin was nearly unhittable for eight innings, sparking the Chattanooga Lookouts to a 2-0 victory over the Carolina Mudcats in the opener of their five-game series at Five County Stadium.
Durbin (2-3) allowed just five hits while striking out three on a night neither he nor reliever Matt Sartor - who earned his eighth save - issued a walk.
Jose Castro had the only multi-hit game for the Mudcats, going 2-for-4.
Lee Tabor (pictured) had a good start for the Mudcats, pitching five shutout innings before Chris Kelly (0-1) allowed an unearned run in the sixth.
The series continues Thursday night at 7:15. Matthew Klinker (3-0, 1.00), who was the Southern League’s pitcher of the week, will start against Chattanooga’s Jesus Castillo (4-7, 4.71).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Chattanooga Lookouts, Chris Kelly, Cincinnati Reds, J.D. Durbin, Jesus Castillo, Jose Castro, Lee Tabor, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Sartor, Matthew Klinker, Southern League
