Aguilar Stays Hot as Mudcats Complete Sweep of Keys

ZEBULON, N.C. - Ryan Aguilar went 2-for-2 with three walks, three runs, two doubles and three RBI, Tristen Lutz went 2-for-5 with two RBI and Aaron Ashby pitched through the seventh with two runs on five hits as the Mudcats finished off a home sweep of the Frederick Keys 8-3 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.
 

The home was Carolina's fourth of the season and lifted the Mudcats (9-8, 48-38) into a four way tie for first in the second half standings. It was also Carolina's second sweep versus the Keys (5-12, 34-52) in Zebulon this season as they finished with a perfect 6-0 record against the Keys at home with Saturday marking the final regular season meeting at Five County Stadium between the two teams this season.
Carolina began their sweep clinching victory the same way they started games one and two of the series, by scoring two runs in the first inning. Wes Rogers opened the game with a triple before scoring on Aguilar's double and a RBI single from Mario Feliciano would score Aguilar as Carolina took an early 2-0 lead on starter Cody Sedlock and the Keys in the first.
Aguilar doubled in a run and scored in the first, he also walked and scored a run in the third and later drove in two with his second double of the game in the fifth. In all, he reached base safely five straight times in the game while raising his on-base percentage to .408 and OPS to .822 on the season. 
Aguilar's first three at bats all came against Sedlock (L, 4-1, 2.53) who left during the fifth and ended up suffering his first loss of the season after allowing five Carolina runs over four and 2/3 innings pitched. Sedlock also walked two and struck out eight.
Carolina led 5-1 after the fifth and was up 5-2 when Ashby (W, 2-2, 2.32) left following the seventh inning. In all, Ashby struck out three, walked four and allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings pitched. Frederick's only runs against him came in the fourth and sixth after Jomar Reyes and Zach Jarrett started both frames with leadoff doubles before scoring later in each frame. Ashby also totaled 95 pitches (58 strikes) in his victorious start and followed three of his four walks issued by inducing double plays to end the third, fifth and seventh innings.
The Mudcats led 5-2 after seven, but Jarrett went on to pull his club within two at 5-3 after hitting a solo home run to left off reliever Michael Petersen in the eighth. The home run ended up accounting for the only run allowed in the game for Petersen as he worked through one frame with one hit and two strikeouts.
The two run Carolina lead quickly ballooned to five in the last of the eighth though as Lutz would force in three runs with a bases loaded single to right off reliever Tim Naughton to put Carolina up 8-3. 
Lutz's single scored both Julio Garcia and Devin Hairston and Aguilar after it was misplayed in right by Jarrett. The resulting error allowed Aguilar in from first as Lutz was credited with two RBI on the play. It was also the second error of the frame as Hairston reached second earlier in the eighth after bunting and moving up a base on a throwing error by Naughton.
Naughton allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in the eighth. He also walked one and struck out three. Reliever Zach Matson preceded Naughton and finished with two and 1/3 scoreless frames, two walks and two strikeouts. 
Justin Topa pitched the ninth for Carolina and finished the game with a scoreless frame that saw him total two strikeouts against Frederick's final two batters. Topa also allowed a leadoff double in the ninth, but left a runner at third while finishing the game.
Hairston went 3-for-4 with two runs in the game for the Mudcats. He was also one of five Mudcats total at least two hits in the game as Rogers went 2-for-5, Aguilar went 2-for-2, Lutz was 2-for-5 and Feliciano was 2-for-5.
Carolina is now 3-0 in its current six game home stand will next play the Lynchburg Hillcats in game one of a three game series beginning on Sunday at Five County Stadium. RHP Nelson Hernandez will start for the Mudcats in Sunday's series opener beginning at 2:00 p.m. versus the Hillcats.
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.
Individual game tickets, season ticket plans, group ticket packages and the latest mini plans are all available now by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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