Diaz Goes Seven Strong as Mudcats win 4-2 in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Victor Diaz turned in his first quality start of the season, Tucker Neuhaus and Weston Wilson had back-to-back RBI doubles in the third and Dallas Carroll hit a solo home run in the fifth as the Mudcats defeated the Pelicans 4-2 on Friday night in Myrtle Beach.

Diaz (3-4, 4.38) allowed two runs and three hits in the first, but then went on to hold the Pelicans (33-34) scoreless and to just one other hit over the next six innings while earning his first win as a starter this season. He also finished with five strikeouts, two walks and two runs on four hits in the road victory.
The Mudcats (32-35) trailed 2-0 after the first, but then marched back with three two-out runs in the third while taking a 3-2 lead on starter Tyson Miller and the Pelicans. Miller ended up with the loss after allowing four runs on six hits over five and 2/3 innings. He also struck out six and walked one in the game before leaving in the sixth.
Carolina's lone walk of the game was issued to Ryan Aguilar and came at the beginning of a three run third inning. Miller walked Aguilar to start the frame, but then went on to retire both Rob Henry and Joantgel Segovia on a groundout and fly-out respectively. 
Aguilar, however, had earlier moved to second on a stolen base during Henry's at-bat and then went to third when Carroll followed Segovia by reaching on infield single to third. The Pelicans, however, attempted to catch Aguilar off third on Carroll's infield hit and an ensuing throwing error on the play allowed Aguilar to score Carolina's first run. Neuhaus then followed with a RBI double to score Carroll and Wilson followed with a RBI double to score Neuhaus to give the Mudcats a 3-2 lead.
Carolina got its 3-2 lead after scoring three two-out runs in the third of Miller. They then added one more in the fifth when Carroll hit a solo home run with two outs in the fifth. The home run was his second of the season and it increased the lead to 4-2
Miller gave up Carroll's solo shot and would finish the fifth before later leaving in the sixth inning. Reliever Jose Paulino followed and went on to pitch through three and 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Diaz worked through the seventh and totaled 94 pitches (58 strikes) while pitching to a 69 game score and earning the victory. Reliever Nattino Diplan followed Diaz and pitched the final two innings while earning his second save of the year. Diplan (S, 2) walked two and struck out two while closing out the victory.
The victory was Carolina's second straight in the series and third win overall in their current eight game road trip. The Mudcats improved to 3-2 in the trip and will next play a doubleheader in Myrtle Beach on Saturday beginning at 4:05 p.m. at TicketReturn.com Field. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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