Diplan, Barker and Williams Blank Buies Creek in 3-0 Win

ZEBULON, N.C. - Marcos Diplan struck out five and allowed just one hit over five and 1/3 scoreless innings and Ronnie Gideon hit a two-run home run in the seventh as the Mudcats blanked the visiting Astros 3-0 in front of a crowd of 5,946 at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.

The Mudcats (9-8) combined to allow just two hits in the victory, with Diplan (1-1, 3.50) carrying a no-hitter through the fourth before giving up a hit to start the fifth. Overall, Diplan walked five, struck out five and allowed just the one hit over five and 1/3 innings while earning his first victory of the season. 
Reliever Luke Barker followed Diplan in the sixth and went on to work through two and 2/3 scoreless while allowing just one hit. He also walked one (his first walk of the season), struck out one while and left an inherited runner on base in his scoreless relief appearance. He also got out of the seventh with held of a double play converted by Ryan Aguilar after he made a stellar diving catch in center and then doubled off a runner at first to end the inning. Barker (H, 2) picked up his second hold of the season and fellow reliever Chase Williams (S, 3) worked a scoreless ninth while earning his third save.
Tweet from @CarolinaMudcats: Ryan Aguilar used the force, and pulled in this sinking line drive to start an inning-ending double play in the top of the seventh. #MudcatsFUN #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/MffU774YGI
Dallas Carroll, who hit fourth for the first time this season, went 2-for-4 with the first run scoring hit of the game in the fourth and a run scored in the seventh. His run scoring hit brought in Tucker Neuhaus who doubled with one out in the fourth off starter Jorge Alcala of the Astros. 
Alcala (0-3, 4.61) allowed just the one run while pitching through fifth with six strikeouts. He also walked two and gave up just one run on four hits in the loss.
The Mudcats led 1-0 through the sixth before taking a 3-0 lead in the seventh when Gideon brought in Carroll with a soaring home run to left. The home run was his second overall this season and his first at Five County Stadium. Gideon's big fly came off reliever Kit Sheetz who had originally entered the game in place of Alcala in the sixth. 
Scheetz gave up four straight hits in the seventh and left the game with two runs allowed one four hits over an inning and 2/3. He also struck out four and walked one. Reliever Ronel Blanco followed Scheetz and struck out two while working the final inning and 1/3 without allowing a run.
Tweet from @CarolinaMudcats: Diplan threw a gem, @DallasC_23 got the offense going, Ryan Aguilar started a phenomenal double play in center, Ronnie Gideon added insurance, and @C_Will31 slammed the door for his third save of the season as the Mudcats defeated Buies Creek, 3-0. #MudcatsFUNWATCH: pic.twitter.com/OlHRIiE0d8
Carolina's victory put an end to a seven game win streak for the Astros and brought them within a game of tying the series. The Mudcats now trail in the four game series two games to one, with the finale set for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. Right-hander Trey Supak (1-0, 0.60) will have the series finale start for the Mudcats on Sunday afternoon, while Abdiel Saldana (2-0, 0.00) goes for the Astros.
The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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