WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Mudcats split double header with Huntsville

Jul 24, 2008

Anibal Sanchez threw a complete game in the opener of Thursday night's doubleheader leading the Carolina Mudcats to a split with second place Huntsville before 6,387 fans at Five County Stadium.

Sanchez (W, 1-0), who was likely making his final rehab start before returning to the major leagues, allowed three runs over the first three innings before shutting out the Stars (18-15) over the final four to earn the 6-3 victory. Gaby Sanchez had a pair of hits and scored two runs while Chris Coghlan homered in the sixth to add an insurance run for Carolina (17-16). Brad Davis had a walk and a pair of sacrifice flies in the victory.

In the nightcap, Huntsville's David Welch (W, 10-1) became the league's first 10-game winner, one-hitting Carolina over the first six innings. Welch, who threw a seven-inning no-hitter against Chattanooga in early June, only allowed a single to John Raynor in the third inning. Juan Sandoval (S, 13) earned his thirteenth save by working the seventh inning.

The Mudcats, who lead the series 2-1, remain two games behind first-place Tennessee, which lost to Montgomery on Thursday night.

Brett Sinkbeil (4-8) starts the series' fourth game on Friday night at 7:15 PM ET against former Mudcat RHP Nic Ungs (3-0).