Mudcats end six-game slide

Published in Sports on June 6, 2006 2:36 PM

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ZEBULON -- Kevin Randel hit a three-run homer to lift Carolina past Mississippi to snap a six-game losing streak on Monday night at Five County Stadium.

Randel, who homered for the second straight game for the second time this season, clubbed a 3-2 pitch from Paul Bush (4-4) against the right field scoreboard to hand Manu Olivera (3-1) the victory.

Olivera retired the first eight hitters he faced, including six consecutive strikeouts before allowing a double to Bush in the third. Mississippi (26-32) went ahead in the fifth on a single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia to drive in Michael Rosamond from second base.

The Mudcats (27-32) built the lead-assuming rally in the fifth on a single by Frank Moore and a walk to Patrick Arlis. Randel's homer came with two outs and after fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches.

Scott Tyler pulled Olivera from a two-on, two-out jam in the sixth, then pitched a scoreless seventh. Matt Yourkin retired the side in order in the eighth, then Christopher Young notched his first save as a Marlins minor leaguer allowing two hits in the ninth, but fanning Mike Rozema looking to end the game

Carolina's win snapped the longest winning streak in the two-year history of Mississippi.

Adam Bostick (4-3, 4.44) starts tonight against Matt Wright (3-2, 2.65) at 7:15 at Five County. Montgomery starts a five-game series in Zebulon on Wednesday night.