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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Advance to League Championship Series with Win Sunday Night

September 13, 2010 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - The Tennessee Smokies magical season continues on. After winning both halves of the Southern League North Division in the regular season, the Smokies dispatched the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 3-games-to-1 with a series clinching 5-2 victory in Game 4 of this week's Southern League North Division Championship Series at Smokies Park.

Tennessee now advances to the Southern League Championship Series to take on the Jacksonville Suns in a rematch of last year's title match. Games 1 & 2 of the best-of-5 title series will be at Smokies Park; first pitch for each game is set for 7:15 p.m.

The Smokies' march to the division championship Sunday began in the third inning. After West Tenn jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the frame, Tennessee answered with two in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles by Blake Lalli and Matt Spencer to take a 2-1 lead.

West Tenn tied the game up at two in the top of the fifth, as Guillermo Quiroz hit a solo home run off Tennessee starter Craig Muschko.

With the game in the balance, momentum swung decisively to Tennessee on one swing of the bat from Steve Clevenger. With one out in the bottom of the fifth and Spencer on first, Clevenger took a Steve Bray (0-1) pitch to deep right field and over the wall to put the Smokies back up 4-2.

An insurance run in the eighth by Tennessee's Marwin Gonzalez extended the Smokies' lead to 5-2, and was more than enough for Muschko. Muschko (1-0) was stellar in his six-inning start, allowing only the two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking none.

Relievers Kyle Smit and Luke Sommer preserved the win for Muschko and Tennessee, slamming the door shut on West Tenn with three innings of one-hit relief. Sommer (S, 1) picked up the save.

Game tickets for Games 1 & 2 of the Southern League Championship Series at Smokies Park are now on sale, and can be purchased online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300. Following a travel day on Thursday, Tennessee and Jacksonville will play Game 3 on Friday, and Games 4 & 5 if necessary on Saturday and Sunday, at The Baseball Grounds in Jacksonville.

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