Carson LaRue had four strikeouts in three innings for Buies Creek on Friday night. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

BUIES CREEK — Three straight home losses have dropped the Buies Creek Astros out of first place in the Carolina League Southern Division first half baseball standings.

The Astros absorbed a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Mudcats on Saturday evening to fall a half-game behind the Winston-Salem Dash.

Buies Creek (23-18) is scheduled to host the Mudcats (20-22) on Sunday at 2 p.m.

J.J. Matijevic and Chuckie Robinson had home runs for the Astros on Saturday.