WRAL Sports Fan

Mudcats

Mudcats begin second half with a loss

Jun 22, 2009

Zebulon, NC- The Carolina Mudcats (0-1) fell to the Jacksonville Suns (1-0) 10-2 Monday night at Five County Stadium in the second half opener.

The Jacksonville offense belted five home runs, the most Carolina had allowed in a single game since the Tennessee Smokies took the Mudcats deep five times on July 25, 2006. Scott Cousins and Lee Mitchell hit back-to-back homers to start the 5th inning, and one out later C Brad Davis drilled a solo shot of his own. Mitchell also homered in his next at bat, drilling a 3-run homer in the 6th inning. Mike Stanton capped the home run parade in the 9th, sending a solo shot over the fence in left-center field.

Mudcat starter Jeremy Horst threw well through four innings but ran into trouble in the 5th inning, allowing three solo homers. In his AA debut, Horst lasted 5.2 innings while surrendering five earned runs on a walk and five hits. Jerry Gil struggled in his fourth appearance out of the bullpen, yielding four earned runs in an inning on the mound.

Former Mudcat Nic Ungs blanked Carolina over seven innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and no walks.

The series resumes Tuesday night at 7:15 PM at Five County Stadium. League ERA leader Travis Wood (7-3, 1.36) will make the start for Carolina against Willie Glen (1-6, 4.42) of Jacksonville.