Left-handed pitcher Matt Maloney has joined the Carolina Mudcats' roster after being optioned by the Cincinnati Reds on Wednsday. Maloney is slated to start Thursday night's game at Five County Stadium against the Mississippi Braves.

The Mudcats will wrap up their 2009 season with a five-game slate against the Braves, who beat Carolina in the 2008 Southern League Championship Series, Thursday through Monday.

LHP Matt Maloney to the Carolina Mudcats, and Maloney will start the series opener against the Mississippi Braves on Thursday night.

The Carolina Mudcats have shipped another one of their most successful offensive players to Triple-A Louisville. Todd Frazier got the call up this week, after leading the Southern League in extra-base hits with 56. His 40 doubles are the second-most in a season by a Mudcat.

Infielder Kristopher Negron was called up from the Reds' single-A team. He was acquired from the Red Sox earlier this summer in a trade that sent Alex Gonzalez to Boston.

Carolina is currently at home for a series with Tennessee, which continues at Five County Stadium through Wednesday night. 

Carolina Mudcats' third baseman Juan Francisco, who leads  the Southern League in home runs and RBIs, has been promoted to Triple-A. He will play for Louisville tonight. Francisco has 22 home runs and 74 RBIs on the season.

Six Carolina Mudcats were named to the Southern League All-Star Team, the league announced earlier this afternoon.

LHP Travis Wood and OF Chris Heisey led the sextet, with both named unanimous selections - the only unanimous selections to the Northern squad.  Wood, 8-3, leads the Southern League in ERA, while Heisey departed the league Saturday leading the batting race. Heisey was promoted to Triple-A Louisville following Friday night's game against Jacksonville.

OF Todd Frazier, IF Zack Cozart, RHPs James Avery and Jordan Smith were also named to the mid-season Southern League classic, which will be played at Regions Park in Birmingham, Ala. on Monday, July 13.  Avery is currently on the disabled list, and will be replaced on the team in the coming days.

The Southern Division team will be announced tomorrow.

The Carolina Mudcats' late push for the Northern Division first half title came up a win short on Sunday. Carolina fell to Tennessee 8-6, a few hours after Huntsville downed Birmingham, 8-3. The Stars finished the first half at 39-31, while the Mudcats went 37-32.

Carolina opens the second half of the Southern League season Monday night against Jacksonville at Five County Stadium. The Suns will be in town through Saturday night. 

The battle for the Southern League Northern Division's first-half title will go down to the last day of the half. The Carolina Mudcats fell to Tennesee 7-0 on Saturday night, but Huntsville dropped its sixth straight game, leaving both teams at 37-31 entering Sunday's games.

Carolina plays at Tennessee at 5 p.m., while Huntsville and Birmingham get rolling at 3:05 p.m.

We'll keep you updated tomorrow.

Carolina Mudcats' first baseman Yonder Alonso has been placed on the
seven-day disabled list with a broken hamate bone in his right hand,
the team announced this afternoon. Alonso suffered the injury taking a
swing on a 3-0 fastball in the second game of yesterday's doubleheader
against Tennessee.  Alonso will be further assessed in the coming few
days to determine the course of action for healing and rehabilitation.
There has been no timetable set for Alonso's return as of yet.

The Carolina Mudcats and ConAgra Foods in Garner have teamed up to provide a night out at the ballpark for all Garner ConAgra employees on Wednesday (June 24) as the Mudcats host the Jacksonville Suns.

ConAgra employees are encouraged to pick up complimentary tickets for the game at the Guard Shack at the North Side Parking Lot, beginning Friday afternoon. The 2,500 tickets are available to employees at no cost on a first come, first served basis.

“We are pleased our employees will be able to attend the game,” said ConAgra Foods representative Stephanie Childs.  “We hope this game will be an opportunity for our Garner employees and their families to gather with their co-workers and enjoy some time together."

The Carolina Mudcats split their doubleheader with Tennessee on Thursday, but still picked up a half-game on division-leading Huntsville with its loss to Birmingham on Thursday night.

The Mudcats have three games to play -- all at Tennessee -- in the first half of the Southern League schedule, while Huntsville will square off with Birmingham in a doubleheader tonight. Huntsville has four games to play, counting tonight's double dip.

Carolina was rained out at Tennessee on Wednesday night, but Huntsville fell to Birmingham dropping the Barons' lead in the divisional standings to a game with five games remaining in the first half.

The Mudcats will play a doubleheader today (Thursday) at Tennessee, beginning at noon.