File Tosses Eight Inning Gem as Mudcats Blank Keys 2-0 in Zebulon

ZEBULON, NC - Dylan File pitched through eight scoreless frames with five strikeouts and Payton Henry provided all of the offense needed after driving in two with a two-out run scoring double in the first inning as the Mudcats blanked the visiting Keys 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

File (W, 5-4, 3.94) scattered seven hits, struck out five and did not issue a walk in his eight inning gem for the Mudcats (31-25) on Sunday versus the Keys (28-27). He also matched a career high for innings with his stellar performance and reached a season high 95 pitches (71 strikes) while earning his fifth win of the season.
Michael Baumann started for the Keys and ended up with the loss after allowing two runs in the first on Henry's two-out, two-run double. Baumann (L, 1-3, 3.30) finished his outing with the just the two runs allowed on two hits over and four and 2/3 innings. He also struck out eight and walked four in the loss.
Henry's two-run double in the first scored both Rob Henry and Tristen Lutz after both had walked earlier in the inning. It was also the first of just five hits in the game for the Mudcats and their only hit through the first four frames. It did, however, prove to be enough as File stranded six and while holding the Keys to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the series and home stand opening victory.
File's brilliant effort also included a couple of standout defensive plays from right fielder Rob Henry who threw out a runner at home to end the fifth and made a leaping catch at the wall to end the sixth. The Keys had loaded the bases in the fifth, but Henry's outfield assist, following a fly out to right from Stuart Levey, caught Ryan Ripken at home to end the frame and threat. His leaping catch, meanwhile, in the sixth also left a runner on and preserved Carolina's 2-0 lead in the game.
Rodrigo Benoit pitched the ninth for the Mudcats and retired three straight with two strikeouts to earn his ninth save of the season. Benoit (S, 9, 0.82) struck out both J.C. Escarra and Ripken to close out the victory for Carolina.
Relievers Cameron Ming and Digenes Almengo worked the final three and 1/3 for the Keys and combined to hold the Mudcats scoreless and to just three hits the rest of the way.
The shutout win was Carolina's third of the season and came in game one of three versus Frederick in Zebulon. The series will continue on Monday night with a 7:00 p.m. start time at Five County Stadium. Monday's game will feature B.O.G.O. Monday, featuring a buy one (1) box seat ticket and get one (1) free ticket offer fans at Five County Stadium. The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. The game will also stream live in full high-definition video on MiLB.tv via Minor League Baseball's subscription service.
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