Mitchell Finer in Carolina

DURHAM, N.C. —  Mike Mitchell didn’t play like a guy who wasn’t sure he belonged. Behind a clutch single in the eighth inning by the Rio Mesa High graduate, the guys from out West took a 6-5 victory in the second California League-Carolina League All-Star game at Durham Bulls Athletic Park before 6,419 on Tuesday night.

Mitchell, who plays for Rancho Cucamonga, drove in two runs to spark a five-run rally in the eighth as California rallied from a 4-1 hole. This from a guy who was a last-minute replacement for Travis Lee of High Desert, who was promoted to triple A.

So much for Mitchell’s plans for the three-day All-Star break with his pregnant wife, Ginny.

“We were gonna relax and have a good time,” Mitchell said. “All of a sudden, they were all, ‘You gotta go to the All-Star game.’

“I still think that maybe I didn’t deserve to come, but my wife made me. That’s why I married her. She’s the smart one in the family.”

No kidding. He was selected the game’s most valuable player.

With the bases loaded and one out in the eight, Mitchell lined a single to right that Kinston’s Scott Morgan bobbled for an error. Before the smoke cleared, Carolina added another error and California escaped with a 6-4 lead.

Gary Matthews Jr., who played at Granada Hills High and Mission College, made a gravity-defying catch on a ball hit to right, stealing a home run from above fence from Durham’s Adam Johnson. Matthews, of Rancho Cucamonga, was hitless in three at-bats.

Right-hander Rob Luce of the Lancaster JetHawks allowed a run in the eighth when Carolina closed to within 6-5, but Luce retired Darren Stumberger of Kinston with runners at the corners to protect the lead.

David Lamb, a Newbury Park High graduate who started at second for the Carolina League, was one for three.

Lancaster’s Carlos Villalobos was hitless in two at-bats.