McKinley strong for Mudcats

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

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Blake McGinley tossed six shutout innings and Carolina turned back Jacksonville 4-3 at the Baseball Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

McGinley (6-7) permitted just two hits and a walk as the Mudcats handed the Suns their third consecutive loss. With 20 games remaining in second-half play, Carolina improved to 25-25 overall.

Eric Riggs' two-out, third-inning single broke a scoreless tie. Ryan Bear's bases-loaded, opposite-field single accounted for two fourth-inning runs, which sent Jacksonville starter Alvis Ojeda (4-6) to the showers.

McGinley followed with a safety-squeeze RBI bunt, which scored Jai Miller.

Brandon Villafuerte provided two innings of four-strikeout relief behind McGinley. Chris Mobley, who surrendered a three-run homer in the ninth, finished off the non-save situation with a game-ending groundout.

Carolina is off today and begins a home series Tuesday against Mississippi. Game time is 7:15 p.m.