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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Barons, Rain No Match For Smokies In 8-1 Win

June 4, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Sevierville, TN - A rain delay did not dampen the spirits or bats of the Tennessee Smokies tonight. The Smokies banged out twelve hits, and the bullpen provided six innings of solid relief as Tennessee knocked off Birmingham 8-1 to stay atop the North Division with a 31-25 record. With 12 games remaining in the first half of the season, the Smokies remain in a tight race with the Huntsville Stars for the first half championship.

The Smokies drew first blood for the first time in this series with the Barons. After a 49-minute rain delay ended the night for both starting pitchers, Tennessee posted a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth. Josh Kroeger hit a two out single to get things started, which brought Casey McGehee to the plate. McGehee ripped a line drive double down the left field line to score Kroeger, and extend his hitting streak to 20 straight games. Matt Craig then brought him home with a single to center field, and the Smokies had a 2-0 lead.

After the Barons plated a run in the fifth to pull to within one run, the Smokies broke the game wide open in the seventh. Gary Cates crushed a double to start off the inning and open the floodgates. Tennessee pushed five runs across in the inning, only one of which was earned. The Smokies benefited from three wild pitches by Barons reliever Eduardo Sierra to take a 7-1 lead. The lead was extended to 8-1 in the bottom of the eighth after Cates slapped his second double of the night and scored on an RBI single by Sam Fuld, his second RBI of the contest. Cates finished the game 2-3 on the night, scoring two runs and stealing two bases.

Greg Reinhard (1-1) picked up the win in relief of Mark Holliman, who went three scoreless innings before the rain delay and did not return to the game. Corwin Malone (1-1) suffered the loss for the Barons.

The Smokies and Barons will play game four of this five game series on Tuesday night beginning at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send left-hander Donnie Veal (3-4, 6.34) to the hill to square off against Barons right-hander Jack Egbert (5-4, 2.98).

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