Harber and Rodriguez shut out Astros

ZEBULON, N.C. - Conor Harber pitched through a career best six scoreless innings, Wuilder Rodriguez earned his first save, Lucas Erceg had a run scoring double and Jake Gatewood was 2-for-2 with a home run as the Mudcats defeated the Astros 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium.

Harber (1-1, 2.61) struck out four, walked four and scattered just two hits while pitching through the sixth and working into the seventh for the first time in his career. He walked two straight to start the seventh, but left with both men still on base and Carolina (11-15) leading 2-0.
Rodriguez (S, 1) took over for Harber in the seventh and was able to escape the frame with help of a successful hidden ball trick out executed by Erceg at third and a great 5-6-3 out involving Luis Aviles Jr. backing up a hard, ricocheting grounder to third.

Erceg was 1-for-4 in the series finale victory and drove in the first run of the game with a two-out, RBI double in the fourth off Buies Creek (18-9) starter Yoanys Quiala. Gatewood then followed a single to center and the Mudcats took a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
Quiala (3-1, 2.38) pitched through the fifth while allowing two Carolina runs on four hits. He also walked one and struck out six. Framber Valdez followed and worked the final three frames with his only hit allowed being the home run from Gatewood start the seventh.
Gatewood's home run in the seventh lifted the Mudcats into a 3-0 lead and was his fifth of the season. It was also his fourth home run in his last six games. Meanwhile, his RBI single in the fourth stretched his current hitting streak to 13 straight games.
Carolina led 3-0 after the seventh and Rodriguez went on to work through two scoreless frames the rest of the way while earning his first save of the season. He pitched a total of three innings and struck out five while allowing just one hit.
The victory came in Carolina's series finale with Buies Creek and kept them suffering a sweep by the Astros. The Astros won the series two games to one.
NOTES: Isan Diaz was 0-for-4 and snapped his hitting streak at 12 games… Buies Creek Manager Omar Lopez was ejected by umpire Ryan Wilhelms in the seventh inning after Erceg's hidden ball trick play.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats will begin a four game series against the Frederick Keys on Thursday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The home stand will then continue with Star Wars Weekend beginning on Friday night with a souvenir arm sleeve giveaway, Star Wars game jerseys and Friday Night Fireworks presented by Sears Home Services.

Thursday's 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 live online via high definition video at MiLB.tv. Tickets are available by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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