SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Jackson a one-man show in Smokies 8-4 win Wednesday

Published on April 29, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn - While the calendar said April, there was a must-win feeling in the air at Smokies Park following two tough losses to the Carolina Mudcats. Enter Jay Jackson, whose all-around performance played a big role in the Smokies 8-4 win over the Mudcats Wednesday afternoon. The win, in front of 2,439 fans, clinched the series and put the Smokies back over .500 at 10-9 on the year.

Jackson (1-3) was the story in Wednesday's contest. His seven-inning gem was partially overshadowed however by his 2-2 outing at the plate, headlined by a 352-foot solo home run in the fifth inning. On the mound, he allowed only one run on four hits, striking out four. The home run and Southern League win were career-firsts for Jackson.

The Smokies broke open a scoreless game in the third. Following a leadoff walk to Steve Clevenger and sacrifice bunt from Jackson, Jonathan Mota singled up the middle, scoring Clevenger to make it 1-0 Tennessee.

Following Jackson's solo shot in the fifth to give Tennessee a 2-0 lead, the Smokies poured it on in the later innings. Ty Wright's second home run of the year kicked off a three-run sixth, with Brandon Guyer and Clevenger crossing home in the frame. Two innings later, Darwin Barney's two-run single brought home teammates Richie Robnett and Tony Thomas, capping another three-run inning.

Up 8-1 through seven innings, manager Ryne Sandberg went to the Smokies bullpen and watched reliever Vince Perkins pitch a scoreless eighth. And while Carolina did put up three runs in the ninth, two coming as the result of an error, relievers John Gaub and Brian Schlitter closed the door on Carolina to preserve the victory.

Jackson's strong performance Wednesday was complemented by a stellar day at the plate by Barney. The Oregon State product went 3-5 on the day, and led the Smokies with two RBIs. Guyer and who else, Jackson, chipped in with two hits. Much of the team's 11-hit barrage was at the expense of Carolina starter Misael DeJesus, who fell to 1-2 on the year.

The Smokies kick off a 10-game road trip starting tomorrow, April 30, in Huntsville and then in Mississippi. The Smokies return home on Monday, May 11, for a five-game series against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. Tickets are available online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES

The Tennessee Smokies are the minor league Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the 10-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for almost 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com - powered by Comcast.

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Southern League Stories from April 29, 2009


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