Smokies Come From Behind to Win Game Three

Published on September 12, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Russ Canzler's three-run, pinch-hit double turned the game around and the Tennessee bullpen tossed five scoreless frames to preserve a 5-2 win over Huntsville Saturday night in the pivotal third game of the best-of-five North Division Playoffs at Smokies Park. The Smokies now lead the series two games to one with game four Sunday in Sevierville, TN.

Lorenzo Cain led off the fourth inning with a single, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt and stayed put after a Drew Anderson walk. Jonathan Lucroy then sliced a line drive double into the alley in right-center field to score both runners to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Marquez Smith doubled with two outs in the home fourth, remained at second after a walk to Wellington Castillo and advanced to third base on an infield hit by Jonathan Mota that loaded the bases. For a second time in the series, Tennessee skipper Ryne Sandberg pinch-hit for his starting pitcher after four frames and the move paid off, as Canzler smoked a line drive past a diving Anderson in left field that cleared the bases and put the home team ahead to stay at 3-2. Andrew Cashner allowed four hits, walked one and fanned one in his first start against the Stars.

Huntsville hurler Mark Holliman was lifted after four frames, yielding four hits, issuing three walks and striking out three. He suffered the loss, his ninth straight on the wrong side of the ledger, and remains winless since beating the Smokies on July 1. Josh Wahpepah took over in the fifth and yielded a leadoff single to Jim Adduci, who moved to third base on a Blake Lalli single and came in to score on Tyler Colvin's line drive sacrifice fly to right field that pushed the home team's lead to a pair. Wahpephah was lifted after a scoreless sixth inning having allowed four hits and recording one strike out. He was followed by Bobby Bramhall, who was removed from the game with two runners on and one out in the eighth inning. Wes Littleton came on and issued back-to-back two-out walks to Starlin Castro and Jim Adduci to force in Castillo to make it 5-2.

Alex Maestri worked a scoreless fifth inning for the Smokies and was taken out with two runners on and two outs in the sixth and followed by David Cales, who induced Steffan Wilson to ground out to end the threat. The right-hander then retired the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. Brian Schlitter worked a perfect ninth inning to nail down the save for a second straight night.

The series continues Sunday afternoon with Stars' right-hander Brandon Kintzler taking the hill against Smokies' right-hander Hung-Wen Chen. Coverage of the game begins at 12:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from September 12, 2009


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