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Tennessee Smokies

Smokies down Carolina 3-2 in Game

July 26, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


Sevierville, TN - Two back-to-back strong pitching displays by Mark Holliman and Ryan O'Malley guided the Tennessee Smokies to a sweep of Thursday night's double-header at Smokies Park. The Smokies came from behind in the seventh inning to take Game 1 by a score of 3-2, and then shut out the Mudcats in Game 2 by the score of 3-0. Tennessee improved to 16-18 for the second half of the season with the two wins. In game one tonight, Holliman (8-8) was sharp once again as he pitched the complete seven innings, giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out five Mudcat batters. Holliman's last outing in the first game of a double header at Smokies Park was on June 21st, when he tossed a no-hitter against the Huntsville Stars. Mark was equally as effective tonight in leading the Smokies to a 3-2 victory. It looked as if Holliman's effort would go to waste however until the bottom of the seventh inning in this double-header shortened game.

The Smokies took the early lead thanks to a solo home run off the bat of newly acquired Smokies first baseman Alan Rick, his first at Smokies Park. Tennessee held the lead until the top of the fifth inning, when Carolina touched up Holliman for two runs on two RBI singles by Brett Hayes and Jonny Raburn.

With the score 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Issmael Salas ripped a single to left off Mudcats reliever Chris Mobley (6-1). Sam Fuld followed with a key double down the right field line to move Salas to third. That brought the hot-hitting Jemel Spearman to the plate, who proceeded to crush a double down the left field line off Mobley. Salas and Fuld came around to score, and the Smokies had a 3-2 victory.

Game two featured more quality starting pitching by the Smokies, this time by Ryan O'Malley (1-0). In notching his first win in a Smokies uniform, O'Malley scattered three hits over six innings of scoreless work, while striking out four Mudcats batters. No Carolina batter reached past second base during O'Malley's six innings.

Tennessee scored all the runs they would need to back up the strong pitching in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a Chris Robinson single, newly acquired Smokies infielder Robinson Chirinos smacked a home run off the Tennessee State Parks picnic deck to give the Smokies a 2-0 lead. Another new addition to the team, Kyle Reynolds, then singled. The speedy Reynolds then stole both second and third to move into scoring position, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fuld to stake Tennessee to a 3-0 lead.

That would be all the offense they would need behind O'Malley's pitching. Jim Henderson came on to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and notch his eighth save of the season.

The Smokies conclude their series with the Carolina Mudcats on Friday night at Smokies Park with game time at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send right-hander Justin Berg (4-7, 5.35) to the mound to face Mudcats right-hander Jesus Silva (0-2, 7.98).

Tennessee Smokies Baseball - It's A Nine Inning Vacation! Call (865) 286-2300 for tickets or purchase tickets on line at www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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Southern League Stories from July 26, 2007


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