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Smokies Crush Carolina 9-3

June 9, 2011 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Zebulon, NC- The three hitters in the Smokies lineup combined for seven of the team's 13 hits, as Tennessee defeated the Carolina Mudcats 9-3 on Thursday night at Five County Stadium. The Smokies improve to 38-23 and increase to two games in the North division.

Tennessee took an early lead in the top of the first when Ryan Flaherty reached base on a ground ball to third base. Blake Lalli then blasted a two run homer in the next at-bat to give Tennessee an early 2-0 advantage. In the top of the second, the Smokies added a run when Steve Clevenger tripled on a fly ball to center field. Josh Vitters sacrificed Clevenger home to score with a fly ball to right field, increasing the Tennessee lead to 3-0. The Smokies added one more run in the top of the third as Junior Lake led off the frame with his first Double-A home run to move the lead to 4-0.

Tennessee kept adding to their lead in the top of the fifth as Lake led off the inning with a single to left field. Lake would advance on a wild pitch and Flaherty walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Lalli would fly out to right field and Rebel Ridling singled on a line drive, scoring Lake and making the score 5-0. Vitters led off in the top of the sixth inning with a solo homerun to left field. Later in the inning, LHP Brooks Raley drew a one out walk and Lake reached base with a fielding error by Jake Kahaulelio. Flaherty followed with a double to right field, scoring Lake and putting the Smokies ahead 7-0.

Carolina tried to rally in the next two innings by scoring three runs. Denis Phipps reached base on a throwing error by Vitters and advanced to second base on a groundout by David Cook. With two outs, Neftali Soto singled to make the score 7-1. In the seventh, Cody Puckett drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a force out by Kahaulelio. Henry Rodriguez doubled to score Kahaulelio, closing the Smokies' lead to 7-3.

The Smokies added two more runs in the eighth inning when Lake walked and advanced to second on a throwing error. Lake would move to third on a Flaherty groundout and Lalli then singled in Lake. Matt Spencer followed up with a double, scoring Lalli to put Tennessee ahead 9-3.

The two teams play game two on Friday night at 7:15 PM. RHP Nick Struck (0-0, 3.00) takes the mound for the Smokies, while LHP Lee Trabor (0-4, 8.63) goes for Carolina.Tennessee returns home to start a five game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on June 15. Tickets can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300 .

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