Late innings prove Smokies' demise Thursday
Published on August 14, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Once again there was a lot of late-inning action in Thursday night's contest between the Tennessee Smokies and the Birmingham Barons. Unfortunately for the second time in the series, the pendulum swung away from the Smokies as the Barons rallied for six runs over the last four innings to win, 7-5.
The two teams traded runs in the first inning. Birmingham's Victor Mercedes solo home run, his second in as many games, gave the Barons the early 1-0 lead. The Smokies' Doug Deeds responded in the bottom of the frame with a RBI single, scoring teammate Sam Fuld and evening the score at one.
Two more runs by the Smokies in the third and fifth innings gave the Smokies a 3-1 lead. Tyler Colvin drove in the first of two runs on the night with a single to left field, scoring Nate Spears. Colvin would again be the man of the hour in the fifth, driving home Deeds with a single this time to right field to pad Tennessee's lead to two runs.
Cruising along through five innings, Smokies starter Grant Johnson ran into trouble in the sixth. With one out, Johnson walked Barons outfielder Ricardo Nanita. Teammate Javier Castillo drove a liner down the left field line, putting runners on second and third. Following another walk to Brandon Allen, Johnson was lifted for reliever Matt Avery. With the bases loaded, Avery walked DH Lee Cruz to bring home Nanita. Castillo then scored on a fielder's choice by Stefan Gartrell to tie the game at three.
The Barons added two more runs in each of the next two innings off Avery to blow the game wide open. Nanita homered with teammate Miguel Negron on base in the seventh to give Birmingham a 5-3 lead. Another Barons' two-run shot, this time by Cruz, in the eighth made it 7-3 Barons.
The Smokies made things a little interesting in the eighth and ninth, scoring runs in each inning to bring the score to within two, but could not solve Barons closer Jon Link. While he gave up an earned run in 1.1 innings of work, Link did pick up his league-leading 32nd save of the year. His effort followed that of teammate Kanekoa Texeira (2-2), who picked up his second win of the year.
The Smokies bullpen did not fare as well in the box score. Rocky Roquet's five-strikeout performance in two innings of work was a bright spot for the home team, but Matt Avery took the loss in relief. He allowed four earned runs, three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings of work. Johnson's no-decision included 5.1 innings of work. He allowed three runs on six hits, striking out two.
Game four of the series will take place Friday night at Smokies Park. The Barons will send eight-game winner Justin Cassel (8-4, 3.02) to the mound, with Donnie Veal (4-8, 4.27) taking the hill for the Smokies. Tickets to the game, which will include a Blues Brothers act appearance for "All Things Chicago" Night and more fireworks, can be found online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.
Southern League Stories from August 14, 2008
- Late Rally Leads Looks to Win - Huntsville Stars
- Mudcats edge Diamond Jaxx - Carolina Mudcats
- Late innings prove Smokies' demise Thursday - Knoxville Smokies
- BayBears Rip 12 Hits in Brave Beating - Mobile BayBears
- Biscuits Rally Late for Extra Inning Victory - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Final BayBear Youth Camp Saturday at "The Hank" - Mobile BayBears
- Suns beat Biscuits late, 3-2 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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