Asheville’s Cameron Maybin had a big home-opener in Raleigh. The News & Observer has the story:
ZEBULON – As far as baseball home openers go, the Mudcats faithful had to be thankful.
Carolina struck quickly and scored early en route to a 7-1 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday.The pregame formalities went off smoothly.
Mudcats fans got their first glimpse at top Florida Marlins prospect Cameron Maybin.
And there were even some fireworks.
On a night featuring two top pitching prospects, this was no pitchers duel.
The Biscuits’ Jack McGhee wasn’t long for the game, but Mudcats starter Chris Volstad worked fast and efficient.
Volstad went six innings, giving up one earned run, five hits, mixing in a curveball with his two-seam fastball. Though he had only one strikeout, he got batters to hit grounders.
“It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” said Mudcats pitching coach Scott Mitchell, pleased with Volstad’s mix of pitches.
McGhee, a top Tampa Bay Rays prospect, lasted only two innings after the Mudcats scored a run in each inning.
McGhee was lucky to get out of both innings leaving the bases loaded.
McGhee gave up three hits (two of which were infield singles).
“It was still anybody’s game,” Mudcats manager Matt Raleigh said. “We let them off the hook early.”
Maybin, the center fielder from Asheville, went 2-for-4, keeping his batting average above .450, though he struck out twice.
Maybin’s infield single in the first inning led to the first run. McGhee later walked Grant Psomas with the bases loaded, scoring John Raynor.
And while the Mudcats left the bases loaded again in the third inning, they added solo runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
“We kept that momentum,” Maybin said. “We got a win.”
Maybin likely saved a run in the sixth inning. After catching a pop fly with the bases loaded, he fired the ball to the relay man, holding up John Jaso at third base.