The Cleveland Indians are coming to Wake county.

Not permanently of course, but for an exhibition game against their new Carolina League affiliates, the Carolina Mudcats.

The game will be on April 3 at 2 p.m. at Five County Stadium, with all ticket packages including an additional ticket

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats owner Steve Bryant announces the exhibition game

In addition, the Indians and Mudcats agreed to an extension of the Player Development Contract that will keep the affiliation through the 2014 season.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our new affiliation with the Carolina Mudcats,” Ross Atkins, Indians vice-president for player development, said in a press release. “This will be an incredible addition to the Cleveland Indians player development system as we are adding a Triple-A caliber ballpark and facility in a major metropolitan area while remaining in what we feel is one of the best developmental leagues in professional baseball.”

Edwin Rodriguez is coming back to Zebulon.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats manager Edwin Rodriguez

Rodriguez, 51, was 78-85 over parts of two seasons with the Marlins from June 23, 2010 to June 18, 2011.

Before becoming the first Puerto Rican-born manager in Major League history, he was with the Mudcats club in 2004 that finished 73-66, later managing the rookie Gulf Coast League Marlins (2005-2006), Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers (2007-2008) and Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs (2008-2010).

“We’re excited to start both a new era in the Carolina League and new partnership with the Cleveland Indians by welcoming back Edwin Rodriguez to Zebulon,” Mudcats owner Steve Bryant said. “Edwin has had a successful career as a manager in both the Minor Leagues and Major Leagues.”

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats are playing their penultimate game in the Southern League tonight.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats manager David Bell

The SL’s mandate that the Mudcats go airborne for trips to Alabama and Mississippi was among the reasons Steve Bryant sold his Double-A franchise to an outfit that’s going to make them the Pensacola (Fla.) Blue Wahoos next season.

So next season the Mudcats will be in the Carolina League, as the old Kinston Indians will become the new Class-A Mudcats. And the Cincinnati Reds affiliation is traded in for the Cleveland Indians.

For this game, Pedro Villarreal (7-3, 4.20) will take on the Braves’ Aaron Shafer (2-2, 4.38). And we’re going to have the last fireworks show of the season when it’s over, in front of one of the biggest crowds of the year at 7,201.

The Mudcats trail by six runs going into the bottom of the eighth, but score five to make it close before falling 8-7.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Checking in on the Carolina Mudcats, who are trying desperately to stave off elimination from playoff contention in their final season in the Southern League.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats infielder Neftali Soto

Tonight’s opponents, the Jacksonville Suns, are in even worse shape, 11 ½ games behind the runaway leader Mobile Bay Bears in the South. N.C. State alumnus Andy Barkett is the Suns’ skipper.

Josh Ravin (0-0, 7.62) will take the hill for Carolina against Jeff Allison (3-4, 6.50).

The Mudcats get off to a good start but not so good of a finish, as the Suns score the last six runs to win 8-4 and take the tragic number to five.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats are playing something close to sudden-death baseball as they play the finale of their five-game home series against the Montgomery Biscuits.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats pitcher Justin Freeman

The Mudcats, the worst team in the Southern League in the first half, trail the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts by 6 ½ games in the North Division. And tomorrow will present the proverbial golden opportunity, as the Mudcats are preparing to leave for a five-game series with the Lookouts beginning Tuesday.

Montgomery is second to the in-state rival Mobile Bay Bears in the South Division, but the deficit is nine games with 21 to play.

The Mudcats hit hard early and hold on, winning 6-5 to take the set 3 games to 2 and move to within six games headed into the must-win series.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Time to check in again on the Carolina Mudcats, who are going to need a miracle to make the playoffs in their final season in the Southern League but are having a respectable second half.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats infielder Neftali Soto

Montgomery, which has about half of its first-half team now playing with the Durham Bulls, is in second place in the South Division but seven games behind the first-place Mobile BayBears.

Justin Lehr (0-1, 3.74) will be taking on the Biscuits’ Shane Dyer (6-7, 4.67) on what is fortunately a mild 74-degree night.

The Mudcats struggle early but pour it on the rest of the way, sending the home fans happy with a 9-4 victory.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Checking in again on the Carolina Mudcats, who have had a huge improvement since finishing far and away in last place in the Southern League in the first half.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats outfielder Felix Perez

They’ll come into their second game of the home series with the Jackson Generals — known last season as the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx — on a five-game winning streak and in second place in the SL’s North Division.

So David Bell’s Mudcats, who got a fresh infusion of talent at the break with first-round catcher Yasmani Grandal the centerpiece, are not only fun to watch again but may be ready to make a playoff run.
Pedro Villareal (3-1, 4.50) will go tonight on a fairly mild evening against Generals lefty James Paxton (0-0, 3.86).

The streak ends tonight but not without a fight, as the Mudcats come back from an eight-run deficit to get the tying run to the plate before succumbing 10-7 and dropping two games out of first place.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Sometimes one of the best things in life is a second chance, and the Carolina Mudcats get one starting tonight.

• Photo courtesy Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats pitcher Matt Klinker

But the second half begins tonight with the opener of a five-game home series with the Huntsville Stars.

Huntsville was the Mudcats’ worst tormentor in the first half, winning all five games in the series in Alabama.

Tonight will mark the Mudcats debut of catcher Yasmani Grandal, the first-round pick out of Miami last year who spent the first half of this season at Bakersfield. Grandal, a member of Team USA’s World Baseball Challenge champions in 2009, hit .296 with 10 homers and 40 RBI in 56 games in the California League. Chris Coddington was sent down to Bakersfield.

And joining the club from Louisville is former Mudcat closer Chris Mobley, while Jason Braun goes to the temporarily inactive list.

Ace Matt Klinker (3-4, 3.60) will start the game for Carolina, while Michael Fiers (3-2, 3.27) goes for the visitors.

This half will start on the right foot, as the Mudcats score the first three runs and hang on for a 3-2 victory.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats mercifully come into their final home series of the first half, taking on the Tennessee Smokies who are the hottest team in the Southern League.

• Photo by Nikolaus © 2011 Carolina Mudcats
• Mudcats manager David Bell

The Mudcats have had several transactions today. Infielder Jose Castro is on the disabled list with a hyperextended left knee while Clayton Shunick — the right-hander out of N.C. State — has been sent down to Bakersfield. Right-hander
Matt Klinker has been sent down from Louisville, while infielder Henry Rodriguez has been promoted from Bakersfield.

Additionally, the rehab assignment of fireballing southpaw Aroldis Chapman continues and he is expected to pitch a late inning tonight.

Pedro Villareal (2-0, 4.91) will go for the Mudcats tonight while lefty Brooks Raley (2-5, 5.10) starts for Tennessee.

Tennessee scores the first five runs and pounds out 13 hits including three homers, rolling to a 9-3 win.

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats are definitely having a tough first half this season.

But they have an opportunity tonight. Having won two of the first three games of the five-game series, David Bell’s club could win its first series since July of 2010 — that’s 17 straight — with a victory tonight.

James Avery (3-5, 4.40) will take on Lookouts lefty Michael Antonini (2-6, 4.17), who leads the Southern League in losses.

The opportunity gets away, as Kyle Russell homers twice and doubles twice for four RBI in a 9-3 Chattanooga win.