Showing posts tagged “Sean Henry”
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 ·
26 Aug 2009, 11:20 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s the finale of the Carolina Mudcats’ five-game homestand against the Tennessee Smokies and there’s no reason for the Mudcats not to relax.
Earlier today a West Tenn Diamond Jaxx victory made the inevitable official. The Mudcats, who came within one game of the first-half North Division title, are not going to be in the Southern League playoffs.
For Tennessee it’s a very big game, as there is still a three-way race among the Volunteer State teams for the division title.
Carolina continues to feed its best players to Triple-A Louisville, with veteran southpaw Tom Cochran the latest to head for a probable Governors’ Cup Playoff team.
There’s a college night promotion going on, and fans and Mudcats employees are wearing logo clothing for either their alma mater or the school they root for.
The players get in on the action, too, as the college alumni are greeted by their school’s fight songs when they come to bat and everybody who didn’t go to college gets assigned one.
Let’s get some chicken tenders and start this pitchers’ duel, which finishes in a 2-1 comeback victory for the visitors.
It’s a good one from the start, with the World Cup-bound Dutchman Alexander Smit (pictured) on the mound for Carolina against Casey Coleman. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alexander Smit, Aneury Rodriguez, Blake Lalli, Bryan Augenstein, Casey Coleman, Chicago Cubs, Chris Carpenter, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Greg Atencio, Logan Parker, Louisville Bats, Luis Montano, Mississippi Braves, Mobile Bay Bears, Montgomery Biscuits, Russ Canzler, Ryne Sandberg, Sean Henry, Southern League, Starlin Castro, Tennessee Smokies, Tom Cochran, Ty Wright
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 ·
23 Aug 2009, 6:40 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s Game 2 of the Carolina Mudcats’ five-game homestand against the Tennessee Smokies, and it’s about getting to the point where the home team is playing for pride - and for job assignments heading into next season.
The Mudcats, who lost their chance for the Southern League’s first-half North Division title when they lost on the road to the Smokies on the final day of the half, are guaranteed a losing record in the second half and likely just a few days away from elimination from the race.
They do have that spoiler thing going, and probably wouldn’t mind throwing a monkey wrench into the Smokies’ playoff hopes. That doesn’t happen as Tennessee wins 3-2, taking a one-run victory for the second straight day.
Today is warm and cloudy, but with no threat of rain.
Umpires and managers are wearing light blue - some would say Carolina blue - sweatbands to promote awareness of prostate cancer.
And the Carolina Hurricanes’ “Storm Squad” is in the house.
Let’s consume mass quantities of chicken tenders and play ball.
The Smokies get their first run off Tom Cochran with a two-out rally in the third. Starlin Castro hits a double to right, followed by Blake Lalli’s RBI single to left.
Tennessee’s Jeremy Papelbon (pictured) allows just one baserunner until there are two out in the fifth, when Justin Tordi breaks up the no-hitter with a double to left center. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Mudcats Andrew Cashner, Blake Lalli, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, David Cales, Doug Deeds, Jeremy Papelbon, Jerry Gil, Jonathan Papelbon, Justin Tordi, Kristopher Negron, Marcus Mateo, Ryne Sandberg, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Starlin Castro, Tennessee Smokies, Tom Cochran, Tony Thomas, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
18 Aug 2009, 10:38 PM ·
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Things are really starting to get desperate for the Carolina Mudcats.
Bryan Peterson’s two-run triple in the sixth was the biggest blow for the Jacksonville Suns, as they topped the visiting Mudcats 6-3 to cut Carolina’s “tragic number” to 11 for elimination from the pennant race in the Southern League’s North Division.
Jacksonville, which is a very solid 70-52 since the season began, is one of just two SL teams with a winning record.
Zach Ward (0-4) took the loss in relief, giving up a pair of doubles in the sixth before Peterson’s big hit off Joseph Krebs. Tom Cochran had a solid five-inning start, allowing two earned runs on three hits and four walks.
Sean Henry (pictured) had two hits for the Mudcats including his 20th double, while Zack Cozart also chipped in a pair of hits.
Game 3 of the five-game set is Wednesday night at 7:05, with Jerry Gil (2-1, 8.47) taking on Nic Ungs (8-2, 2.20).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Bryan Peterson, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Jacksonville Suns, Jerry Gil, Joseph Krebs, Nic Ungs, Sean Henry, Southern League, Tom Cochran, Zach Ward, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
17 Aug 2009, 11:35 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ chances to make a long-shot comeback for a playoff berth got even longer.
Brad Davis’ two-run homer in the sixth inning was the killer blow as the Jacksonville Suns topped the visiting Mudcats 5-2 in the opener of their five-game series. Carolina’s “tragic number” is down to 12.
The homer came off losing pitcher Luis Montano (0-4), who has dropped all four of his Double-A starts.
Jacksonville led 2-0 through three innings before one blast scored Carolina’s runs.
Former Mudcats pitcher Anibal Sanchez, possibly making the final start of his current Major League rehab, had retired the first nine batters in order before walking Sean Henry to lead off the fourth. Shaun Cumberland (pictured) then followed by rocketing a 3-1 fastball into the right-field bleachers.
Jacksonville added an insurance run against Ruben Medina in the seventh on a Logan Morrison double.
The series continues Tuesday night at 7:05, with Carolina’s Tom Cochran (4-5, 3.27) starting against Graham Taylor (6-6, 4.09).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Anibal Sanchez, Brad Davis, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Graham Taylor, Jacksonville Suns, Logan Morrison, Luis Montano, Ruben Medina, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Tom Cochran
Mike Potter ·
16 Aug 2009, 6:29 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s the finale of the Carolina Mudcats’ homestand and the last time they’ll play the Birmingham Barons this season unless a 100-year miracle gets the home team a playoff berth.
It’s a hot, cloudy afternoon, but at least the Mudcats have room for some optimism since they were finally able to beat the league’s best team last night.
And they need wins badly, as they enter today’s action with a “tragic number” of 13 for elimination from the Southern League’s North Division race.
There’s not going to be much of a crowd, though there’s an interesting addition to the press box. On hand for the past two games to write a story for hometown paper back in The Netherlands is Frank Vonken, who introduces himself to everyone as “Frank from Holland.” Frank, who says he speaks five languages (”We’re not worthy!”) is on hand to cover Alex Smit (pictured), the big lefty from Eindhoven who is back in the lineup after recovering from a sore back.
The trip turns out to be a productive one for our friend Frank, as Smit - whose accent is now barely discernable - allows two runs on two hits in seven innings to pick up the decision in a 4-3 victory. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alexander Smit, Birmingham Barons, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, David Cook, Frank Vonken, Henry Mabee, Jacksonville Suns, Jake Kahaulelio, Jason Bour, Javier Colina, Jim Gallagher, Johnny Lowe, Lee Cruz, Luis Montano, Matt Long, Montgomery Biscuits, Philippe Valliquette, Rayner Oliveros, Rob Hudson, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, The Netherlands, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, 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 ·
10 Aug 2009, 11:06 PM ·
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Nick Hill was just too much for the Carolina Mudcats.
The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx southpaw fired a three-hit complete game, giving his team a 7-1 win over visiting Carolina and a 3 games to 2 victory in the series. Hill is 4-4.
Hill (pictured), an alumnus of USA Baseball’s National Team, had sat down 23 straight Mudcats batters after Shaun Cumberland’s one-out single in the first to begin the ninth inning with a 7-0 lead. Carolina then broke the shutout with back-to-back doubles from Justin Tordi and Sean Henry.
UNC alumnus Marshall Hubbard hit a solo homer off Jeremy Horst (0-3) to get things going for West Tenn in the first. Travis Garcia also homered for West Tenn.
The loss dropped the Mudcats eight games behind first-place Chattanooga in the Southern League’s North Division race.
Carolina, which went 3-7 on its road trip, has Tuesday off before beginning a five-game home set with the Birmingham Barons starting Wednesday.
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, UNC-Chapel Hill, USA Baseball Birmingham Barons, Cincinnati Reds, Jeremy Horst, Justin Tordi, Marshall Hubbard, Nick Hill, Sean Henry, Seattle Mariners, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Travis Garcia, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
