Mudcats double up West Tenn.

Published in Sports on July 13, 2007 1:48 PM

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JACKSON, Tenn. -- Gaby Hernandez worked 72/3 innings, while Ryan Bear homered and doubled to lead Carolina to an 8-4 victory over West Tenn on Thursday night at Pringles Park.

Hernandez (5-8) notched his second win in three starts, pitching his longest outing of the season. Hernandez permitted a first inning home run, but quickly settled in and kept the Diamond Jaxx off balance much of the remainder of his start.

Bear clubbed a two-run homer in the second with two outs against West Tenn starter Doug Fister (2-7). Fister had retired the first five batters before Brett Hayes singled ahead of Bear's seventh home run, his sixth since June 1st.

Carolina (9-13) grew the lead to 5-1 in the sixth, knocking Fister from the game with three consecutive hits with one out. Dante Brinkley bounced a single to left, followed by successive doubles from Eric Riggs and Chase Lambin. Lambin's dove along the right field line to score two runs. Fister was relived but Lee Mitchell delivered a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to 5-1.

In the seventh, Bear doubled with two outs and scored on Jai Miller's two-base hit for a 6-1 lead.

Hernandez would be rescued in the last of the eighth after allowing a hit and another runner reaching on a dropped pop fly by Miller. Reliever Carlos Martinez allowed a two-run double, but set down the Diamond Jaxx in order in the ninth to preserve the win.