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Tennessee Smokies

Late Inning Rally Wednesday Gives Smokies Fifth Straight Win

August 3, 2011 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - The Tennessee Smokies used an eighth inning RBI single by Nelson Perez take the lead and eventually defeat the Birmingham Barons 5-4 Wednesday night at Smokies Park. Tennessee's win is their fifth in a row and puts them at 63-46 this year, 20-19 in the second half.

With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Blake Lalli led the inning off with a double to right center. Josh Vitters advanced Lalli to third on a groundout to short, and after Ty Wright was intentionally walked, Perez came through with an RBI single to put the Smokies ahead 5-4.

The win preserved a strong showing by both the Smokies' offense and starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx. While not factoring in the decision, Bibens-Dirkx kept Tennessee in the game with two strikeouts over five innings. The three runs he allowed were given up in the first two frames he pitched.

Birmingham took a brief 1-0 lead in the first when Brandon Short doubled and came in on a Jose Martinez single. The Smokies wasted no time in responding, as Jim Adduci led off the bottom half with a triple and Jae-Hoon Ha drove him in with a single up the middle to tie the game at one.

The Barons added a pair of runs in the second, as Ross Wilson grounded out to score Jake Oester and Short brought in Luis Sierra with an RBI single.

An inning later, the top of the Smokies' order did more damage. Junior Lake led off the inning with a double and stole second. Ha came through with a two-out double to drive in Lake, and after Wright reached on a hit by pitch, Lalli singled to score Ha. Wright would then steal home after Lalli was caught in a rundown between first and second to give the Smokies the 4-3 advantage.

Oswaldo Martinez took over in the sixth, but struggled to find the plate and walked three batters without recording an out. Marcus Hatley relieved Martinez, and with the bases loaded and no outs, induced a double-play ball that allowed Sierra to score and tied it at 4-4. Hatley then got Christian Marrero to fly out to end the inning, stranding a runner at third and killing the Birmingham threat.

Hatley gave way to Rafael Dolis after two scoreless innings, striking out one and not surrendering a hit. Dolis (7-5) received the win after keeping the Barons off the board in the final two frames, allowing no hits and striking out one. Nathan Jones (1-3) took the loss for Birmingham.

The Smokies will look to sweep the five-game set with the Barons Thursday night at 7:15 at Smokies Park. Pitching for Tennessee will be Brooks Raley (6-8, 4.24) and for Birmingham, Justin Edwards (3-5, 4.72). Tickets for the game can be purchased online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

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