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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Fall Again to Biscuits Thursday Night

July 9, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - The return of manager Ryne Sandberg and anticipated Smokies debut of hurler Andrew Cashner weren't enough for the Tennessee Smokies Thursday night, as they fell again to the Montgomery Biscuits, 6-3, in front of 2,991 fans. The loss is the fourth in a row for the Smokies (8-10, 40-48) and puts them five games back of the division-leading West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

Sandberg returned to the Smokies dugout following a three-game suspension handed down by the Southern League Monday afternoon. At his disposal for the first time at Smokies Park were the services of Cashner, the Chicago Cubs first-round draft pick in the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Cashner did not disappoint. In only his second Double-A start, he allowed three hits in 4.2 innings of work. The Biscuits did score three in the fifth to answer the Smokies' first run in the bottom of the fourth, but they weren't charged to Cashner. The 22-year-old righty walked three and struck out one. His ERA through two starts is 0.93.

Tennessee's Marquez Smith drove teammate Jonathan Mota in for the game's first run in the fourth. It would be the only real threat the Smokies could muster off Montgomery's Brandon Mann. Mann shut down Tennessee to improve to 5-5 on the year, allowing only one run on six hits in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out four.

The Smokies' final two runs of the game came after Montgomery put a three-spot on the board in the fifth and sixth innings. Chris Nowak's single in the fifth drove in two to put the Biscuits up 3-1, while home runs by Nevin Ashley and Jason Bowers off Smokies reliever Casey Lambert in the sixth padded Montgomery's lead to 6-1.

The Smokies would cut the Biscuits' lead to 6-3 in the ninth. Ty Wright's triple to center brought home Tyler Colvin to make it 6-2 Montgomery. Wright would score on a Doug Deeds sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 6-3. Reliever Rayner Oliveros would get the final two outs though to end the game.

Tennessee will look to get their first win of their series with Montgomery Friday night at Smokies Park. Southern League All-Star Casey Coleman (9-3, 2.56) will go for Tennessee, with Heath Rollins (7-7, 3.71) throwing for Montgomery. Tickets for the game can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com, by calling (865) 286-2300 or at the stadium ticket office.

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