Smokies fall to Barons in series finale, 8-2
Published on May 25, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Following a very moving pre-game Memorial Day ceremony Monday night at Smokies Park, the Tennessee Smokies and Birmingham Barons got off to a very fast start. The Smokies (20-22) would be unable to keep up as the Barons (30-14) took the series finale, 8-2, in front of 3,702 fans at Smokies Park. With the loss, the Smokies are two games back of the Huntsville Stars in the Southern League North Division.
Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the first, the Smokies put up a two-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Blake Lalli singled to right field off Barons starter Aaron Poreda, bringing home Marquez Smith to cut Birmingham's lead to 2-1. Lalli would move to second on a Russ Canzler walk and score on a Ty Wright single to center, tying the game at two.
Birmingham would counter with a run in the second off Smokies starter Casey Lambert. With runners on first and third, and two out, Gordon Beckham singled on a line drive to center. David Cook easily scored from third to put the Barons back up front, 3-2.
While Tennessee would hold Birmingham scoreless over the next four innings, the Smokies offense could muster little against Poreda. Lambert threw in three of those innings, but would be lifted after the fifth. He allowed three runs on nine hits in five innings, walking one and striking out one.
Heading into the seventh up 3-2, the Barons struck again. Birmingham would rough up Smokies reliever Jesse Estrada for four runs in the frame. Jake Muyco would relieve Estrada with two out and get out of the inning, but the damage had been done.
Poreda picked up the win for Birmingham, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings of work. The highly touted Chicago White Sox prospect struck out five and walked three.
The Smokies now turn their attention to the Huntsville Stars, who come into Smokies Park Tuesday for a five-night, eight-game series. LHP Chris Cody will take the mound for Huntsville in Game 1 of Tuesday's 5:30 p.m. ET double-header, with Marcos Mateo (-12, 5.57) getting the ball for Tennessee. Game 2's match - Donovan Hand (2-1, 2.20) vs. James Russell (2-2, 4.78) - will take place 30 minutes after the completion of Game 1. Ticket information can be found at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.
Southern League Stories from May 25, 2009
- Smokies fall to Barons in series finale, 8-2 - Knoxville Smokies
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- BayBears Sweep Twin Bill - Mississippi Braves
- Barons On Pace For Second Highest Attendance in Regions Park Era - Birmingham Barons
- Cozart Lifts Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Carolina Trumps Lookouts, 4-3 - Carolina Mudcats
- Huntsville Makes it Four of Five Over Jaxx - Huntsville Stars
- Huntsville takes four of five from Jaxx with 5-2 win on Monday - Jackson Generals
- Biscuits Take Series Finale over Suns - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Biscuits Earn Memorial Day Win, 6-5 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Catalanotto Promoted to Milwaukee - Huntsville Stars
- Jaxx and Edge Sports to host Showcases at Pringles Park - Jackson Generals
- Martinez Heads to Marlins - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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