Mudcats

By Steve Roush
Published in Sports on July 20, 2006 2:11 PM

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ZEBULON -- Ryan Bear's game-winning single culminated a two-run ninth as Carolina rallied past Huntsville 5-4 at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night before 5,452 fans.

Carolina (11-16) lost a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth when Huntsville (10-17) scored twice against Matt Yourkin. However, Khalid Ballouli (2-4) could not hold the lead. J.C. Muniz started the push with a walk, then advanced on a fortunately placed pop fly bunt from Patrick Arlis, which dropped between a diving Ballouli and catcher Lou Palmisano for a single. After a sacrifice bunt, Frank Moore was intentionally walked ahead of pinch-hitter Kevin Randel, who flew out to shallow left, but Muniz could not score. With two outs, Lee Mitchell was hit by a pitch on the jersey to force in the tying run.

Bear then singled over second baseman Callix Crabbe to score Arlis with the game-winner.

Kevin Cave (1-2) earned the win by stranding the bases loaded in the ninth after replacing Yourkin.

James Russ earned a no-decision by throwing seven innings of two-run baseball. Jorge DeLaRosa allowed three runs over six innings in his fifth major league rehab start for Milwaukee.

Huntsville took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by Jeff Eure, but a double by Muniz scored the tying runs in the bottom half. Carolina nosed ahead 3-2 in the sixth after Brett Carroll scored on a short wild pitch from DeLaRosa after tripling to lead off the inning.

After losing four straight in Montgomery, Carolina has now won consecutive games and moved into fourth place in the North, trailing first-place Chattanooga by four games.

Trevor Hutchinson (0-1, 12.47) makes his second Double-A start after missing all of 2005 with a rotator cuff injury today against Yovani Gallardo (0-2, 0.73) at 7:15 p.m.