Smokies Edge Rays, 2-1
August 2, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Orlando Rays News Release
Kodak, Tenn.â For the second straight night, Orlando entered the seventh inning with a chance to win the game. And for the second straight night the Smokies broke their hearts, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh to rally past Orlando, edging the Rays 2-1 at Smokies Park Saturday.
Yadier Molina and Chris Weekly each had RBI singles in the seventh inning off Orlando starter Jason Cromer (L, 0-1), giving Tennessee a 2-1 lead heading into the eighth inning. Mike Lyons would pitch a scoreless ninth to earn his 27th save, tying Mobile's Rusty Tucker for most in the Southern League.
Orlando took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when B.J. Upton singled to left field and stolen second. Jonny Gomes then drove the 2002 second overall draft pick in with the game's first run. Upton would end up 1-3 with a stolen base and run scored in his Class AA debut, while Gomes was 1-3 with a RBI. Juan Salas went 2-4 for Orlando, who fell to 49-60 on the year and 17-22 on the second half.
Cromer would end up going 7.0 innings in his Class AA debut, allowing two runs â both earned â on seven hits. He walked one and struck out two in the loss.
The loss dropped Orlando's season record to The Rays and Smokies conclude their four-game series tomorrow at 5:00, with Orlando sending righty Gerardo Garcia (NR) to the mound against Tennessee LHP Chris Narveson (3-0, 2.08). Orlando travels to Greenville, SC for a four game series with the Greenville Braves starting Monday at 7:15.
O-Rays Notes:
- Former Orlando lefty Jon Switzer made his MLB debut Saturday night at Kansas City, allowing three runs on four hits in 2.2 innings of relief work.
- Orlando RHP Gerardo Garcia makes his first appearance at Smokies Park since he entered the SL record books last year. Garcia tossed a no-hitter against Tennessee on May 22, 2002, the only no-hitter in Smokies Park history and the first for an Orlando pitcher since 1991 (Mike Trombley, 7-inning no-hitter vs. Knoxville). Orlando's most recent was a perfect game spun by Chad Gaudin, a 7-inning gem at Jacksonville July 15.
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Southern League Stories from August 2, 2003
- Stars Fall in Birmingham, 5-1 - Huntsville Stars
- Barons Down Stars, 5-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Smokies Edge Rays, 2-1 - Orlando Rays
- Suns' rally falls a run short - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- BayBears swept by West Tenn in double-dip - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies Rally Past Rays - Knoxville Smokies
- Jone Returns to Rotation in Stars' 5-1 Loss - Huntsville Stars
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