Mudcats drop opener; West Tennessee wins first half
June 17, 2005 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
Sevierville, TN --- Dan Uggla went 4-4 and Jesus Cota belted a two-run homer as red-hot Tennessee won its eighth straight game, defeating ice-cold Carolina 6-3 in Thursday's series opener at Smokies Park.
With Carolina's seventh straight loss, the Mudcats (40-25) were eliminated in the first half race by West Tenn, which swept a doubleheader in Mississippi. The Mudcats trail the Diamond Jaxx by 3 1/2 with three games left in the half.
For the first time in 56 innings, Carolina held a lead after a solo homer by James Shanks occurred with two outs in the third inning. Josh Johnson (L, 6-2) surrendered four runs in the bottom half, however, as Tennessee (31-36) assumed a 4-1 lead. The Mudcats scored single runs in the fourth and fifth before Cota slammed a two-run homer in the sixth for the final margin 6-3.
Cota's home run, his league-tying 13th, was the first allowed by Johnson in over 100 innings, dating to July, 2004.
The Mudcats brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth, but did not push across a run.
The second game of the series is Friday night at 7:15 PM ET with Luke Lockwood (2-1) opposing Tennessee's Enrique Gonzalez (7-2).
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Southern League Stories from June 17, 2005
- Braves win marathon over D-Jaxx - Mississippi Braves
- Diamond Jaxx lose 15 inning marathon - Jackson Generals
- Smokies win ninth straight - Tennessee Smokies
- BayBears lose 7-2 - Mobile BayBears
- Barons bash Baybears, 7-2 - Birmingham Barons
- Suns rest regulars, get hammered by Biscuits - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Nolasco Activated; Will Pitch Tonight vs. Mississippi - Jackson Generals
- Mudcats announce roster changes - Carolina Mudcats
- Suns and Diamond Jaxx clinch playoff spots - SL1
- Diamond Jaxx clinch division title - Jackson Generals
- Mudcats drop opener; West Tennessee wins first half - Carolina Mudcats
- Diamond Jaxx earn first playoff berth since 2002 - Jackson Generals
- Mississippi Braves game recap - Mississippi Braves
- Baybears win with 19 hits - Mobile BayBears
- Barons fall to Baybears, 9-3 - Birmingham Barons
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