Smokies Crush Carolina 9-3
Published on June 9, 2011 under 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 .
Southern League Stories from June 9, 2011
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- Braves Surrender Ninth-Straight Home Game - Mississippi Braves
- Peralta's 10 Ks Shoot Stars Past Generals, 6-2 in Game One - Huntsville Stars
- Smokies Crush Carolina 9-3 - Knoxville Smokies
- Corbin Sets BayBears Record in Win Over Barons - Mobile BayBears
- BayBears Bind Barons, 4-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Barnese Hurls Six Shutout in 4th-Straight Win - Montgomery Biscuits
- Generals Drop Opener in Huntsville - Jackson Generals
- Suns Fall to Biscuits 5-2 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Goldschmidt Named SL Topps May Player of the Month - Mobile BayBears
- Two Huntsville Pitchers Added to Southern League All-Star Roster - Huntsville Stars
- Four Smokies Named to North's All-Star Starting Lineup - Knoxville Smokies
- IF Jose Castro to DL - Carolina Mudcats
- Jarrett Grube Named North Division All-Star Starter - Jackson Generals
- Barons Host Auctions for Tornado Relief - Birmingham Barons
- 2011 Southern League North Division All-Star Starting Lineup - SL1
- C.J. Retherford Released, Kenshin Kawakami Activated - Mississippi Braves
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