Mudcats blanked in Southern League play

Published in Sports on July 21, 2006 2:08 PM

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ZEBULON -- Yovani Gallardo pitched six shutout innings while Ryan Braun finished a triple shy of the cycle as Huntsville blanked Carolina 9-0 at Five County Stadium on Thursday night before 5,234 fans.

Gallardo (1-2), who represented the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2006 Futures Game in Pittsburgh last week, fanned nine against one walk to earn his first Double-A win.

Trevor Hutchinson (0-2) suffered the loss in his second game back at the Double-A level, allowing Braun's home run on the first pitch with two outs in the first inning. Braun's clout cleared the centerfield wall.

Braun doubled home Ron Acuna in the fourth to extend the lead to 2-0. Acuna tripled to right-center to begin the inning.

Huntsville (11-17) added a run in the fifth, then three more with two outs in the sixth to knock Hutchinson from the game.

Meanwhile, Gallardo worked around leadoff baserunners in his final four innings before turning the game over to a pair of relievers to complete the shutout.

Carolina (11-17) had six hits in the game, including five from the two newcomers to the infield.

Tony Schrager went 3-for-3 with a walk, while Brian Cleveland had a pair of singles with a stolen base. Schrager was signed from the Atlantic League, while Cleveland joined the Mudcats from High-A Jupiter two days ago.

Jose Garcia (2-3, 2.17) starts tonight against Tim Dillard (6-6, 3.13) at 7:15 at Five County.