SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Close Out Mudcats with 6-4 Win Wednesday

Published on August 5, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Having entered into a first-place tie in the Southern League North Division one night earlier, the Tennessee Smokies made sure they would hold onto that lead for another night as they defeated the Carolina Mudcats, 6-4, in front of 3,479 Wednesday evening at Smokies Park. Having taken 4-of-5 from the Mudcats this week at Smokies Park, the Smokies find themselves tied with Chattanooga at 22-18 in the season's second half.

Wednesday night's start had all the makings of a repeat from Tuesday night's 9-8 slugfest between the two teams. Carolina's Juan Francisco belted his 21st home run of the year in the first off Tennessee starter Casey Coleman to put the Mudcats up 2-0.

As they've done all series, the Smokies immediately responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Tyler Colvin's RBI-double with two outs scored Jim Adduci to bring in the first Smokies run. Colvin would then cross home on a Ty Wright single to tie the game at two.

Long ball was the word in the third and fourth innings. Wright gave the Smokies their first lead of the game in the third, driving a Jeremy Horst pitch over the left field wall to put the Smokies up 3-2.

After Francisco answered for the Mudcats with a solo shot in the top of the fourth, his second home run of the game off Coleman, Chicago Cubs All-Star Geovany Soto put the Smokies back on top to stay in the bottom of the frame. His two-run home run off Horst (0-2) was his second in as many nights and gave the Smokies a 5-3 lead.

Tennessee's lead increased in the bottom of the seventh, as Blake Lalli delivered a RBI-double to left that would score Wright and put the Smokies up 6-3.

The lead would hold as Marcos Mateo threw two scoreless innings in relief of Coleman. Jayson Ruhlman came on with one out in the eighth to hold the Mudcats at bay, but ran into some trouble in the ninth by allowing consecutive one-out singles and a walk to lead the bases. Alex Maestri (S, 3) came in to record the final two outs, allowing a run on a hit batter, to earn the save.

Tennessee heads to Birmingham Thursday to kick off a five-game series with the Barons at Regions Park. The Smokies next homestand kicks off next Tuesday, August 11, against the Jacksonville Suns. Details about the homestand can be found at www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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Southern League Stories from August 5, 2009


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