Chattanooga defeats Carolina

Published in Sports on June 21, 2006 2:07 PM

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Aaron Herr's two-run homer in the first inning held up as first-half champion Chattanooga blanked Carolina 3-0 at Bell South Park on Tuesday night.

Herr connected for the second time this season against Mudcats starter Paul Mildren (5-6) on a 1-2 pitch with Javon Moran aboard for a 2-0 lead. Mildren also gave up a run-scoring single by Ryan Hanigan in the fourth as Chattanooga (1-1) took a 3-0 lead.

Carolina (1-1) had two strong scoring opportunities slip away in the first and sixth innings. The Mudcats placed runners at the corners in the opening inning with one out before Matt Belisle fanned Kevin Randel and induced a popup by Brett Carroll to exit the inning. Belisle, on the Cincinnati Reds disabled list with a sore back, pitched 21/3 innings in his third major league rehab outing, his first with Chattanooga.

In the sixth, Carolina filled the bases against Steve Kelly (9-4) with one out, but Carroll and Jamie Athas each struck out. Kelly, who became the league's first nine-game winner, struck out nine over 42/3 innings to earn the win.

Edgar Gonzalez had three of the Mudcats' six hits in the game, while Josh Willingham had a pair of singles in his first of a two-game major league rehab for the Florida Marlins. Willingham, who is expected to start in left field this afternoon, is on the Marlins disabled list with a left wrist sprain.

Mildren pitched his sixth consecutive quality start, allowing three runs over six innings, then was relieved by Scott Tyler, who threw two scoreless innings.

The middle game of the series is today at 12:15 p.m. with Jose Garcia (1-0, 0.71) starting against Eddy Valdez (3-3, 4.01).