Wed. 9/3: Meccage Received, Wake Up! 10:05 Central for Mudcats Playoff Push

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday.

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[Jake McKibbin]

Thread Title: On Point

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

If Mudcats win this morning and a Fayetteville lost this evening we will be in 1st.

[Ro Mueller]

It’s a quick turnaround for Low-A Carolina after last night’s victory at Fredericksburg, with RHP Bryce Meccage (4.41 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 69.1 IP) returning for his first game action in 33 days. 1B Eric Bitonti reached base in all 5 plate appearances yesterday (2B, 1B, 3 BB). The Mudcats are 1 game out of first place with 6 games remaining.

[Joseph Zarr]

First live action in just over a month? How about we send the Meccage early. K, K, K. That's a three-pack of swinging K's. Hats off to young C Kevin Garcia for catching two foul tips. 0-0 and they head to the 2nd.

[Jake McKibbin]

There's a dude in the Mudcats game, a spectator in a red shirt, who epitomises "chill". That's total relaxation right there

[Jake McKibbin]

And Jose Anderson with a deep drive to left!

 

That marginal caught stealing on Bitonti hurts a little more now

[Jake McKibbin]

In some twist of fate, it would be fascinating to see the Mudcats, who were swept as the possessors in the final week of the first half, come  back and do the same as the chasers in the second half for a playoff push. 

[Jim Goulart]

19-year-old Tyler Rodriguez, in an attempt to reach for the first base bag on an infield grounder, went tumbling in the worst way.

He was lifted onto a cart and taken off the field in what would be a miracle if it's not a devastating long-term lower body injury.

[Jim Goulart]

Ethan Dorchies in for Meccage after Bryce's apparent scheduled one-inning outing.

[Jim Goulart]

18-year-old Handelfry Encarnacion is Rodriguez' substitute in left field.

[Jake McKibbin]

Dorchies finishes off the frame with a misplaced high curveball to strike out Eli Willits. Nice scalp there

[Jake McKibbin]

Payne singled and a slightly fortunate stolen base. If the shortstop holds that, Payne's out fairly comfortably

[Jake McKibbin]

Just now, Jake McKibbin said:

Payne singled and a slightly fortunate stolen base. If the shortstop holds that, Payne's out fairly comfortably

And then some slightly odd baserunning, didn't cut the bases well and took a wide turn at third base on an Ebel single before being thrown out very comfortably at the plate. By 5 yards or so

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, if the Muddies manage to pull out Game 2 tthey will likely look to RHP Ethan Dorchies' escape act in the bottom of the 3rd.

[Jim Goulart]

FredNats load the bases with one out in the 3rd, a 5-2 force-out for the 2nd out and then Ragsdale smoothly glides deep to snag a ball over his head.

Jose Anderson one-out double in the 4th, followed by a four-pitch walk to Kevin Garcia.

[Jim Goulart]

3 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Jose Anderson one-out double in the 4th, followed by a four-pitch walk to Kevin Garcia.

Unassisted double play for the first baseman ends the inning, looping soft liner.

[Jim Goulart]

Mudcats turn another huge DP, 1st and 2nd, none out in the 5th behind Dorchies. Another groundout keeps it a 1-0 game.

[Jim Goulart]

A misplay by the FredNats RF gifts Eric Bitonti a two-out double in the 6th. Jose Anderson and Kevin Garcia follow with singles, Garcia's for the RBI as Bitonti scores.

2-0 good guys as we go to the bottom of the 6th.

In need of a less stressful inning on defense...

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

This Mudcats team must want to bring baseball back to Zebulon for the fans!

[Jake McKibbin]

Ethan Dorchies throwing 98 pitches at this stage of the season is one heck of an effort. Lots of contact, but he did a great job keeping it on the ground when he faced traffic and a varied arsenal had the Nats in tatters

[Joseph Zarr]

Perhaps, Di Turi's most important AB of his season right here. 2-0 Muddies lead top of 8. Men on 1st and 2nd. Two down. No big deal. Here's hoping the baseball gods are listening.

[Joseph Zarr]

Di Turi wlaked the bases full. Hendelfry grounded out to 2B. Huge missed insurance opportunity there.

AND, Reyes immediately gives up a long ball. Proceeds to walk the next batter.

You literally never know which Reyes you are getting. The Mudcats bullpen, in its current form, is very much a 50-50 proposition. Let's see if the resolve is there. 2-1. Bottom 8. Nobody out. Man on 1st. Another poke into Lf but they nab the lead runner at 3rd and Reyes bounces back with a K! Two down. Man on 2nd.

[Joseph Zarr]

WP advanced the runner to 3B. Reyes gets ahead 1-2. Ball in the dirt 2-2. Ball low 3-2. Goodness it is never easy. AND

 

 

 

He gets the ground out to 1B! On to the 9th. No big deal. 2-1 Mudcats.

[Jim Goulart]

15 baserunners for Carolina through 8 innings (11 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP).

Jose Anderson 4-for-4, a triple shy of a cycle (two singles).

Just 2 runs, however.