July 31: Mudcats vs. Wood Ducks Game Notes

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DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS (TEXAS RANGERS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS)
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | 11:00 AM | Game 109, Home Game 56 | Five County Stadium (6,500) | Zebulon, NC
RADIO: WZAX, 99.3 FM
STREAMING AUDIO:carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 55-53; DE: 74-34
Streaks: CAR: L7; DE: W2
Last 10 Games: CAR: 2-8, DE: 7-3
Home Record: CAR: 32-23; DE: 34-20
Road Record: CAR: 23-30; DE: 40-14
Division Record: CAR: 20-31; DE: 38-14
Current Series: DE leads 1-0 (of 3)
Season Series: DE leads 12-3 (of 20)
CAR v. OPP: 1-7 @CAR (10), 2-5 @OPP (10)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS...
WED, 7/31 vs. DE, 11:00 AM: Down East RHP Reid Anderson (5-5, 3.80) at Carolina RHP Nelson Hernandez (10-7, 4.43)
THU, 8/1 vs. DE, 7:00 PM: Down East LHP John King (2-2, 2.03) at Carolina RHP Noah Zavolas (5-5, 3.07)
FRI, 8/2 at WS, 7:00 PM: Carolina RHP Christian Taugner (4-7, 5.04) at Winston-Salem TBA
TODAY: After seeing their season high losing streak stretch to seven straight games, the Mudcats continue a brief three game home stand today with game today of a three game series versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC... Down East won last night's series opener 4-3 and lead the overall season series between the two teams 12-3. The Wood Ducks have additionally won 10 straight game against Carolina dating back to late May when Down East won three of four game versus the Mudcats at Five County Stadium (5/24-5/27). Tonight's game is the second of three in the series, the eighth of 13 second half meetings and the 16th of 20 overall games between the two teams.
ICYMI: Ryan Aguilar had a run scoring single in the sixth and blasted a solo home run in the ninth while driving in two runs and scoring once in a 4-3 loss to the Wood Ducks on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The loss stretched Carolina's current losing streak to a season high seven straight games. The Wood Ducks scored twice in the first to take an early lead, but Carolina answered back with a run in the fourth and sixth while tying the game at 2-2. Down East then rallied for two runs in the eighth, including a go-ahead home run from Curtis Terry, while moving in front again 4-2. Aguilar's homer in the ninth then cut the lead to 4-3, but Carolina went on to leave two men on in the final frame while coming up short in their comeback bid.
TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER...
Nelson Hernandez: 10-7, 4.43 ERA, 21 GS, 113.2 IP, 38 BB, 86 SO
Last game, 7/25 at DE: L, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 98 pitches
Has allowed 12 home runs this season; including eight homers allowed at home.
OF LATE: The Mudcats are currently mired in a season high seven game losing streak and have gone 4-15 since 7/10 and since starting the second half 12-8 over the first 20 games of the second half (6/20-7/9)... The Mudcats have combined to hit just .182 with 2.34 runs/game since 7/10, but have pitched to a 2.80 ERA in that same span... The Mudcats have been shut out thee times over their last seven games and four times over their 14 while falling to 6-8 in shutouts this season. Carolina was 5-3 in shutouts before the All-Star break.
ROAD WOES: The Mudcats are just 1-13 over their last 14 road games and just 4-14 away from home since the All-Star break... Carolina started the season 16-11 over their first eight road series, but have gone 7-18 since. Overall Carolina is 23-29 on the road this season.
WHERE THEY RANK: Mario Feliciano is currently tied for 1st in the CL in home runs (15), 2nd in RBI (69), 4th in slugging (.450), 9th in hits (98), tied for 2nd in extra-base hits (37) and 2nd in total bases (168)... Ryan Aguilar is currently 3rd in the CL in OPS (.813), 3rd in OBP (.405), 10th in hits (96), tied for 6th in doubles (21), 1st in walks (71) and 1st in runs (70)... Payton Henry is tied for 7th in the CL in home runs (10) and tied for 6th in RBI (58)... Matt Hardy is currently tied for 6th in the CL in wins (7) and tied for 7th in games (31)... J.T. Hintzen is tied for 2nd in the CL in games (33)... Cody Beckman is tied for 5th in the CL in games (32)... Noah Zavolas is currently 2nd in the CL in ERA (3.07), 1st in innings pitched (123.0) and 2nd in WHIP (1.13). Zavolas is also 2nd in the CL in FIP (3.20), 2nd in xFIP (3.38), 1st in BB/9 (1.46) and 2nd in K/BB (4.50)... Matt Smith is currently 3rd in the CL in ERA (3.29), 2nd in LOB% (77.4%) and 6th in WHIP (1.28).
BACK STOP SPLITS: Payton Henry and Mario Feliciano have split catching duties this season with Henry starting 55 games behind the plate and Feliciano starting 51 games at catcher... The Carolina pitching staff is 30-25 and has totaled a 3.52 ERA (3.0 BB/9, 8.6 SO/9) in games started by and caught by Henry... Carolina's pitchers are 24-27 with a 4.21 ERA (3.1 BB/9, 7.9 SO/9) in games caught by Feliciano.
SINCE THE BREAK: Matt Smith has pitched to a stellar 1.91 ERA over seven starts since the All-Star break and is currently 6th among qualified CL starters in second half ERA... Noah Zavolas is currently 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA over seven second half starts and is currently 8th among qualified CL starters in ERA in the second half.
KINGS OF THE NORTH: The Mudcats are currently 35-22 versus Carolina League Northern Division teams this season. They have also gone 17-8 versus Northern Division teams since 6/11 (at FRE)... The Mudcats are, however, just 4-23 vs. Southern Division teams since 5/24 (vs. DE, 3.5 GB of first before 5/24) and had suffered nine straight losses in games versus Southern Division teams (6/16 vs. WS - 7/3 at MB) before defeating the Pelicans 3-2 on 7/19 in Zebulon. They are also just 20-31 overall versus their own division this season.
STINGY PEN: The Carolina bullpen has combined to go 1-3 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and .227 average against since 7/21... Phil Bickford has pitched through five straight scoreless outings (8.0 IP, 0 R, 11 SO) with 12.4 SO/9 and a .154 average against over that same span... Michael Petersen has pitched to a 1.59 ERA , 13.1 SO/9 and .173 average against over his last 18 appearances and 22.2 innings pitched. Petersen has also held left-handed batters to a .148 average this season.
ALL THE Ks: Carolina batters have combined to total a Carolina League high 1,090 strikeouts this season (6th most in MiLB). The Mudcats are on pace to set a league and franchise record for strikeouts for the third straight season... Carolina batters combined to total a CL and franchise record 1,311 strikeouts last season; breaking the previous CL and franchise record of 1,245 SO set by Carolina in 2017.
MUDDY HISTORY: July 31, 2009 - 1B Justin Tordi, C Chris Denove and 3B Juan Francisco turn fourth triple play in franchise history. 3-2-5, 3rd inning: 1st/3rd, no outs: Chopper to 1B Justin Tordi, tapped bag for first out, threw home on Gaby Martinez trying to score, tag applied by C Chris Denove for 2nd out; Lucas May rounded 2nd base, running halfway toward third as out at plate was made, and ran toward third; Denove threw to 3B Juan Francisco to triple up Lookouts
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... played in Zebulon, NC since 1991 (29th season).
... played in the Carolina League since 2012 (8th season).
... been an affiliate of the Brewers since 2017 (3rd season).
... not made the playoffs since the 2008 season.
... not made the playoffs during their Carolina League era.
... operated under the ownership of the Brewers since Oct. 2017.