Showing posts tagged “Sarasota Reds”
Mike Potter ·
13 Nov 2009, 7:06 PM ·
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Manager David Bell (left) and hitting coach Ryan Jackson (bottom right) will be back with the Carolina Mudcats next season, the Cincinnati Reds organization has announced.
Tom Brown, who was with Class A Sarasota each of the past three seasons, will be the new pitching coach replacing Rigo Beltran. Jimmy Mattocks will return as athletic trainer.
Bell, 37, took the Mudcats to a 65-74 record and within one win of a first-half title in the Southern League’s North Division in his first year as a skipper.
Jackson, a 37-year-old Duke alumnus who is a former Durham Bull, will be back for his second season with the club.
Brown, 60, has eight seasons’ experience as a Triple-A pitching coach.
Mattocks, 27, is in his fifth year with the Reds’ organization and third at the Double-A level.
The Mudcats will open on the road April 8 at Birmingham, later hosting the Montgomery Biscuits in the Five County Stadium opener on April 14.
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Duke Birmingham Barons, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Jimmy Mattocks, Montgomery Biscuits, Ryan Jackson, Sarasota Reds, Southern League, Tom Brown
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 ·
30 Aug 2009, 9:10 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ scheduled game against the Montgomery Biscuits, the third of a five-game set, has been postponed and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Monday night at 7:05 (EDT).
The Mudcats had two transactions on Sunday, both involving right-handed pitchers.
Greg Atencio had been promoted to Louisville, while Durham native Chris Kelly is back from Sarasota.
Carolina’s final homestand of the season, another five-game set, begins on Thursday with the Mississippi Braves providing the opposition.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Chris Kelly, Cincinnati Reds, Greg Atencio, Louisville Bats, Mississippi Braves, Montgomery Biscuits, Sarasota Reds, Southern League, Tampa Bay Rays
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 ·
2 Aug 2009, 9:37 PM ·
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Tyler Colvin isn’t having any trouble with Carolina Mudcats pitching.
The Tennessee Smokies’ slugger out of Clemson blasted a three-run homer in the fourth inning - tying a Southern League record with a hit in his 11th consecutive at bat before failing in his next plate appearance - to lead his team to an 11-1 rout on Sunday.
That was the visiting Mudcats’ fourth straight loss.
Carolina scored its run in the first on a Todd Frazier triple before the dam broke.
Zach Ward lasted just three innings in his Mudcats debut, giving up six runs on eight hits.
Chris Kelly then came on for two innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.
Jeremy Papelbon (4-4) picked up the victory.
Frazier, who had two hits after enduring a 1-for-19 slump coming into the contest, led Carolina’s five-hit offense.
The Mudcats are now 6 ½ games behind the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts in the North Division.
Tom Cochran (3-3, 3.24) will start Monday’s 7:15 contest against the Smokies’ Andrew Cashner (1-1, 1.09).
The Mudcats’ transactions list continued to grow, as catcher Chris Denove has been promoted to Louisville to make his Triple-A debut, while fellow catcher Jake Long is up from Sarasota.
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Andrew Cashner, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chicago Cubs, Chris Denove, Clemson, Florida State League, International League, Jeremy Papelbon, Louisville Bats, Sarasota Reds, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Tyler Colvin, Zach Ward
Mike Potter ·
2 Aug 2009, 12:25 AM ·
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Tyler Colvin did most of the damage for the Tennessee Smokies as they dealt the visiting Carolina Mudcats their third straight loss, 4-1 on Saturday night.
Colvin (pictured) hit his eighth homer of the season and also added a double and a single as the Mudcats’ Luis Montano dropped his Double-A debut.
Carolina scored its run in the first when Sean Henry singled, stole second and later scored on a Todd Frazier groundout.
Tennessee, which won its sixth straight, tied it in the fourth on back-to-back doubles from Colvin and Wellington Castillo.
The Smokies finished the scoring in the fifth as Jim Aducci tripled to center and scored on a Blake Lalli grounder. Two batters later Colvin blasted a two-run homer, his fifth against Carolina this season.
David Patton, made a major-league rehab start for Tennessee, leaving the game after three innings with a possible groin injury.
Marco Carrillo (2-1) got the win in relief while Brian Schlitter picked up his 15th save.
Zach Ward, who like Montano was called up from Sarasota on Saturday after Lee Tabor and Matt Klinker were called up to Louisville, will make his Carolina debut today 5 p.m. against Jeremy Papelbon (3-4, 3.52).
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Blake Lalli, Brian Schlitter, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Clemson, David Patton, Jeremy Papelbon, Jim Adduci, Lee Tabor, Louisville Bats, Luis Montano, Marco Carillo, Matt Klinker, Sarasota Reds, Sean Henry, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tyler Colvin, Wellington Castillo, Zach Ward
Mike Potter ·
1 Aug 2009, 2:21 AM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s the fifth and rubber game of the Carolina Mudcats’ home series with the Chattanooga Lookouts, and the Mudcats are definitely looking for a win because they’re about to head out on a 10-game road trip.
And the rains that were heading East across Wake county do a pretty good job of delaying the game, although the field is going to be in great shape.
It’s another very special occasion tonight as it is the birthday of “Muddy the Mudcat” and mascots from everywhere are in the house including Stormy from the Carolina Hurricanes and Rufus Lynx from the Charlotte Bobcats.
And the game starts 74 minutes late with no apparent threat of further rain, as we get ready for the boys to start circling bases in a game the Lookouts eventually win 9-8 in 12 innings.
The Mudcats have no trouble jumping on starter Alberto Bastardo for five runs on five hits in the first. The big ones are a bases-loaded two-run single from Juan Francisco and a two-out, two RBI single from Chris Denove.
Chattanooga makes it 5-1 in the second on Juan Gonzalez’ two-out single to right.
And in the third inning, one of those once-in-a-lifetime things for casual baseball fans happens. The Lookouts have a big inning going as James Tomlin singles to right and then Andrew Lambo reaches on an error to Shaun Cumberland in left. Gaby Martinez follows with an RBI single to right and then Lucas May adds another RBI single to right.
Then it happens. Eddy Perez hits a bouncer straight to first baseman Justin Tordi, who fires home to get Martinez. May is caught between second and third, and Denove fires the ball down to Francisco at third to finish the triple play. (I have now seen three, a 9-2-6 pulled by the Richmond Braves in the late 70s and a bases-loaded L5-4 by the Lynchburg Hillcats against the Durham Bulls sometime in the early 90s. I think, anyway.)
After the Mudcats put one across in the third, Russ Mitchell’s homer in the fourth cuts the Lookouts’ deficit to 6-4. Carolina answers in the bottom of the frame as Jake Kahaulelio (pictured) hits a one-out triple and scores on Todd Frazier’s sacrifice fly. Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Mudcats, Duke, Durham Bulls Alberto Bastardo, Andrew Lambo, Carolina League, Charlotte Bobcats, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chris Denove, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, David Patton, Eddy Perez, Enerio Del Rosario, Florida State League, Gaby Martinez, International League, Jake Kahaulelio, James Tomlin, Jesus Rodriguez, Juan Francisco, Juan Gonzalez, Justin Tordi, Lee Tabor, Los Angeles Dodgers, Louisville Bats, Luis Muñoz, Lynchburg Hillcats, Richmond Braves, Russ Mitchell, Sarasota Reds, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tommy Giles, 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 ·
18 Jul 2009, 12:10 AM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ game with the Chattanooga Lookouts was rained out Friday night at Five County Stadium and will be played tonight as part of a 6:15 p.m. doubleheader.
The Mudcats will be attempting to break a three-game losing streak during tonight’s twin bill.
Carolina will have a new player for tonight’s action in infielder Justin Tordi, who has been promoted from Sarasota after hitting .172 with a homer and 15 RBI.
Tordi will replace Eric Eymann (pictured), who has been promoted to Louisville of the International League. Eymann was hitting .233 with a homer and 20 RBI at the time of his promotion.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, Eric Eymann, Florida State League, International League, Justin Tordi, Los Angeles Dodgers, Louisville Bats, Sarasota Reds
