Mudcats win home opener

Published in Sports on April 17, 2007 1:47 PM

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ZEBULON -- Lee Mitchell drove out his second home run in two at-bats to lead off the bottom of the ninth Monday as Carolina claimed its home opener at Five County Stadium 10-9 over the Mobile BayBears.

Mitchell, who had two multi-homer games last summer for Carolina (3-8), drove the second pitch from Mobile reliever Dustin Glant (0-2) far over the left field wall for Carolina's third win in 11 games. Mitchell's blast overrode a six-RBI game from BayBears' left fielder Jon Zeringue, who knocked in six runs with a pair of homers and a double. Zeringue had not driven in a run all season until Monday night.

The game started with winds consistently more than 25 mph, out to basically every field of the stadium. Carolina had 15 hits, including three by Jai Miller, and two each from Brad Davis, Brett Carroll, Mitchell and Jose Campusano.

Matt Yourkin (1-0) earned the win in relief as the seventh pitcher used in the game by manager Brandon Hyde. Jesus Delgado picked up a no-decision with five innings on two runs, departing with a 5-2 lead. However, the Mudcats bullpen could not hold it, with Scott Nestor permitting a pair in the sixth and Craig Molldrem surrendering five (one earned) in the seventh.

Daniel Barone (0-1, 3.37) starts today against the BayBears (4-7) at 7:15 p.m.