Smokies End Losing Streak
Published on August 27, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
Sevierville, TN - The Tennessee Smokies solidified their playoff hopes tonight with a convincing 7-3 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts at Smokies Park. The Smokies benefited from a strong outing by pitcher Donnie Veal, and home runs by both Tyler Colvin and Kyle Reynolds to snap a six game losing streak in front of 3,099 excited fans. With the win, the Smokies eliminated Chattanooga from the wild card race, but have not sewn up the 2nd half title as of yet.
Chattanooga jumped on top of the Smokies early on in the game again tonight. A double off the bat of Drew Anderson scored a run for the Lookouts followed by a two-run single by Craig Tatum gave Chattanooga a 3-0 advantage in the top half of the second inning. Tennessee was able to cut into the three run lead in the bottom half of the inning however, thanks in part to Tyler Colvin's solo home run, his seventh of the season with Tennessee. Veal (7-10) settled in after a rough second inning to retire the next twelve batters he faced. The Smokies offense also helped out Veal with some timely hitting to take the lead in the bottom half of the fourth. Colvin, who went 3 for 4 on the night, led off the inning with a single off Lookouts starter Sam Lecure (7-5) and then scored on a Kyle Reynolds RBI double. Reynolds advanced to third on a throwing error on the play, and was brought home by an RBI single by catcher Chris Robinson to tie the game at 3-3. The Smokies took the lead thanks to Veal's bat, who drove in his first run of the season with an RBI single to give the Smokies a 4-3 advantage.
The Smokies never looked back, as Veal continued to mow down Lookout batters through 7 2/3 innings. Tennessee scored two more runs in the fifth on Reynolds' eighth home run of the season, and added another run in the sixth thanks to a Jorge Cortes RBI double to extend the lead to 7-3 in favor of the Smokies. Matt Avery came on to pitch the final 1 2/3 innings to preserve the win for Tennessee.
Game four of this five game series will take place on Tuesday night at Smokies Park beginning at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send right-hander Justin Berg (6-7, 5.14) to the mound to face Chattanooga right-hander Steve Kelly (0-1, 3.00).
Tennessee Smokies Baseball - It's A Nine Inning Vacation! Call (865) 286-2300 for tickets or purchase tickets on line at www.smokiesbaseball.com.
Southern League Stories from August 27, 2007
- BayBears Crush Jacksonville - Mobile BayBears
- Stars' Struggles Continue - Huntsville Stars
- Two-Out Runs Sink M-Braves - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies End Losing Streak - Knoxville Smokies
- Carolina, Montgomery Postponed - Carolina Mudcats
- Biscuits, Mudcats Rained Out - Montgomery Biscuits
- Get Half Price Admission at Trustmark Park - Mississippi Braves
- Cottrell moves up to Montgomery - Montgomery Biscuits
- Molldrem joins Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Hernandez Disabled - Mississippi Braves
- Clayton Kershaw Named Southern League Pitcher of the Week - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Southern League Names Hitter and Pitcher of the Week - SL1
- Jaxx, Stars split - Jackson Generals
- Carolina blanked - Carolina Mudcats
- Stars and Jaxx Split Sunday Twin Bill - Huntsville Stars
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