SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Another comeback win for the Smokies 7-6

Published on May 29, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Sevierville, TN - For the third time in four games, the Tennessee Smokies mounted a comeback win over the visiting Carolina Mudcats, this time in a 7-6 win in front of 2,354 fans. Sam Fuld had a big night at the plate, going 4-5 on the evening, with catcher Chris Robinson providing the game winning RBI in the tenth. With the win, the Smokies improved to 21-33 and won their first home series since April this year.

The Mudcats jumped on Smokies starter James Russell early in the game, touching him up for five runs in the first two innings. Russell gave up home runs to Mudcats' batters Gaby Sanchez and Alberto Concepcion in the first inning, which accounted for the first four runs of the game.

The Smokies offense was slow to get going again tonight, but eventually got going in the bottom half of the fifth. Two RBI singles from Matt Camp and Tyler Colvin got Tennessee on the board and cut the Mudcats lead to 5-2. Carolina then increased their lead to 6-2 by plating another run in the eighth inning off Smokies reliever Darin Downs.

Just when it looked like the Smokies were dead in the water, the offense came to life again in the bottom half of the eighth much like it did in Tuesday night's 8-7 come from behind win. Nate Spears led off the inning with a double down the left field line to get things started, followed by a Doug Deeds single to move Spears to third. Steve Clevenger then delivered an RBI single to score Spears and pull the Smokies to within three. The Smokies were also aided by two errors in the inning, which helped to account for another run. Fuld then deposited a line drive single into center field to score Matt Matulia, and the Smokies were suddenly only down 6-5.

Tennessee then tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI sacrifice fly by Deeds to score Colvin, and the game headed into extra innings. After Michael Cooper (1-2) pitched a scoreless tenth inning, the Smokies kept the rally going in the inning. Matulia ripped a single to center field, and was moved over to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Joe Simokaitis. A Kyle Reynolds groundout moved Matulia to third, and the hot hitting Fuld was then intentionally walked. With two out, Robinson cracked an opposite field shot down the first base line off of Carlos Martinez (1-2) to score Matulia for a Smokies win. A jubilant Smokies dugout mobbed Robinson at first base, celebrating another come from behind win.

Game five of the series will take place at Smokies Park on Friday night at 7:15pm. Tennessee will look to right-handed starter Mitch Atkins (2-5, 4.58) to the mound to face off against Mudcats right-hander Darell McCall (1-0, 3.00).

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Southern League Stories from May 29, 2008


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