Zebulon, NC --- In the sixth longest game in franchise history, the Carolina Mudcats dropped a 9-8, 4-hour, 35-minute game as the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts capitalized on a dropped flyball to win the game before 5,380 fans at Five County Stadium on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The game, which was delayed 1-hour, 4-minutes because of rain before the first pitch, ended at 12:54 AM Saturday morning when Jason Bour grounded out to second as the last remaining batter on manager David Bell's bench.

Chattanooa (19-16) took its only lead in the top of the 12th thanks to a flyball that was dropped by right fielder Stephen Chapman to start the inning. Juan Gonzalez, who attempted to bunt on the first pitch from Joe Krebs (L, 0-1), then singled to right-center on the next with Russ Mitchell running. Mitchell took third on the hit, and then after a shallow flyout, scored on a single by Tommy Giles that just eluded the glove of second baseman Todd Frazier, who was pulled in on the grass.

Carolina (14-21) fell five games behind the Lookouts in the Northern Division, ending the season-series 12-14 against the Lookouts. The Mudcats blew a 5-0 first inning lead en route to dropping the series 3-2.

In the first, Juan Francisco and Chris Denove each connected for two-run singles to highlight a five-run frame against Alberto Bastardo. However, the Lookouts chipped away at the deficit before tying the game in the sixth inning. The Mudcats forged back ahead on a sacrifice fly by Shaun Cumberland in the sixth, only to witness the Lookouts tying the game in the seventh on a single by Russ Mitchell.

The Mudcats narrowly missed winning the game in the last of the 11th, but were denied when Mitchell made a leaping backhand stop of a chopper hit by Chris Denove with Carson Kainer at third base. Kainer broke on contact and was thrown out by a pinpoint toss from Mitchell to catcher Lucas May.

The Mudcats embark on a 10-game, 11-day road trip on Saturday night at second-place Tennessee, which is a game behind Chattanooga. Lee Tabor (1-2, 3.13) starts the opener against the Smokies at 7:15 PM ET.

Chattanooga Lookouts (49-55) 9, Carolina Mudcats (51-53) 8
July 31, 2009
123456789101112RHE
Chattanooga 0121211000019131
Carolina 5011010000008133








ChattanoogaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Tomlin, Ja, CF6220004.314
Lambo, LF6210001.266
Martinez, G, RF-1B5122111.303
May, C3011310.306
Perez, E, 1B2100004.270
Guerra, P0000000.000
a-Gutierrez, G, PH0000000.294
Garate, P0000000.000
b-Godwin, PH1000010.250
Sartor, P1000011.000
Rodriguez, Je, P0000000.000
Mitchell, R, 3B5322101.222
Gonzalez, Ju, 2B6031003.212
Sellers, J, SS4011105.294
Bastardo, P2000012.077
Giles, RF2011211.271
Totals4391388623.264




a-Hit by pitch for Guerra in the 7th. b-Struck out for Garate in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Tomlin, Ja (16, Gil).
HR: Mitchell, R (11, 4th inning off Gil, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Tomlin, Ja 3; Lambo; Martinez, G 2; May; Mitchell, R 5; Gonzalez, Ju 3; Sellers, J; Giles.
RBI: Gonzalez, Ju (11), Martinez, G 2 (36), May (23), Mitchell, R 2 (43), Sellers, J (24), Giles (21).
2-out RBI: Gonzalez, Ju.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Bastardo; Sellers, J 2; Martinez, G; Sartor.
S: Tomlin, Ja.
SF: Sellers, J.
GIDP: Tomlin, Ja.
GITP: Perez, E.
Team RISP: 8-for-18.
Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING
SB: May (2, 2nd base off Krebs, J/Denove).
CS: May (1, 2nd base by Kelly/Denove).

FIELDING
E: Martinez, G (3, fielding).


CarolinaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Henry, CF6120112.265
Kahaulelio, SS5340001.282
Valiquette, P0000000.000
b-Vazquez, C, PH0000000.231
Krebs, J, P0000000.000
c-Bour, PH1000000.167
Frazier, 2B3111201.303
Francisco, J, 3B5112105.265
Kainer, RF-LF5110111.269
Cumberland, LF3111002.228
Medina, P0000000.000
Parker, L, 1B1000000.226
Denove, C6022003.264
Tordi, 1B-SS5001133.100
Carroll, P1000011.000
a-Cozart, PH1000001.270
Gil, P0000000.083
Kelly, P10100001.000
Chapman, RF3000000.232
Totals4681376620.254

a-Grounded out for Carroll in the 3rd. b-Hit a sacrifice bunt for Valiquette in the 10th. c-Grounded out for Krebs, J in the 12th.

BATTING
2B: Kahaulelio (3, Bastardo), Denove (13, Bastardo), Frazier (35, Guerra), Henry (14, Garate).
3B: Kahaulelio (1, Bastardo).
TB: Henry 3; Kahaulelio 7; Frazier 2; Francisco, J; Kainer; Cumberland; Denove 3; Kelly.
RBI: Francisco, J 2 (65), Denove 2 (18), Tordi (1), Frazier (55), Cumberland (16).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Carroll; Francisco, J 2; Cozart; Henry; Denove; Kahaulelio.
S: Vazquez, C; Parker, L.
SF: Frazier; Cumberland.
Team RISP: 2-for-16.
Team LOB: 12.

FIELDING
E: Cumberland (2, fielding), Kelly (1, pickoff), Chapman (1, fielding).
Outfield assists: Henry (Gonzalez, Ju at 3rd base).
DP: 3 (Frazier-Kahaulelio, Henry-Tordi-Kahaulelio, Krebs, J-Tordi-Parker, L).
TP: (Denove-Francisco, J-Tordi).




ChattanoogaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Bastardo 4.29753405.30
Guerra 1.12111003.86
Garate 2.01000102.13
Sartor (W, 2-4)3.01002103.09
Rodriguez, Je (S, 1)1.00000003.54
Totals12.013866603.78

CarolinaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Carroll 3.05320009.00
Gil 1.04331117.82
Kelly 2.11214004.50
Medina (BS, 5)1.01001003.35
Valiquette 2.20001402.67
Krebs, J (L, 0-1)2.02101100.00
Totals12.013968613.61


Gil pitched to 4 batters in the 5th.

WP: Bastardo 2, Sartor, Gil.
IBB: Frazier (by Sartor).
HBP: Perez, E (by Carroll), Gutierrez, G (by Medina).
Pitches-strikes: Bastardo 112-67, Guerra 31-19, Garate 22-17, Sartor 42-23, Rodriguez, Je 8-5, Carroll 50-34, Gil 28-15, Kelly 35-12, Medina 26-16, Valiquette 39-24, Krebs, J 34-23.
Groundouts-flyouts: Bastardo 7-3, Guerra 2-2, Garate 0-5, Sartor 6-2, Rodriguez, Je 2-1, Carroll 7-2, Gil 1-1, Kelly 1-3, Medina 2-1, Valiquette 1-3, Krebs, J 2-3.
Batters faced: Bastardo 27, Guerra 7, Garate 7, Sartor 12, Rodriguez, Je 3, Carroll 14, Gil 8, Kelly 9, Medina 6, Valiquette 9, Krebs, J 9.
Inherited runners-scored: Guerra 2-0, Kelly 2-0, Medina 2-1, Valiquette 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Matt Schaufert. 1B: John Haggerty. 2B: . 3B: Tripp Gibson.
Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, R to L.
T: 4:35 (1:04 delay).
Att: 5,380.

Compiled by MLB Advanced Media

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