SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Fall in Series Opener 7-4

Published on August 23, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


JACKSON, Tenn. - The Tennessee Smokies saw their two-game winning streak come to an end, losing 7-4 to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in the opening game of the three game series at Pringles Park on Monday night.

Despite the loss, the Smokies continue to lead in the second half North Division standings, up seven games on the Huntsville Stars. Tennessee's "magic number" to clinch the division is now at nine.

Smokies starter Trey McNutt took the loss for Tennessee in his Southern League debut. It is the first loss of the season for McNutt, who was previously 10-0 in 22 starts for Peoria and Daytona. Luis Munoz took the victory for West Tenn to improve to 6-5 in 2010. Mumba Rivera picked up his second save of the year.

West Tenn scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning, as Alex Liddi drove in Matt Lawson on a sacrifice fly to put the Jaxx ahead 1-0.

Tennessee catcher Steve Clevenger saw his consecutive at-bats with a hit streak end at nine, as he grounded out in his first at-bat of the ballgame in the second inning. Clevenger's streak ended at nine, two shy of the Southern League record.

The Smokies first cracked the scoreboard in the top of the third, as a throwing error by Liddi helped Tony Thomas score to tie the game at one run apiece. Tennessee took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a Tony Campana RBI double that scored Clevenger.

West Tenn responded with a four run rally in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead back at 5-2. Lawson, Dunigan, Liddi, and Limonta all drove in runs in four consecutive at-bats to give West Tenn the three run lead. McNutt left the game during the bottom of the fifth. In his Smokies debut, McNutt pitched four and two thirds innings while giving up five runs on seven hits, as he also walked two batters and struck out five.

Tennessee tacked on their third run of the game in the top of the sixth on a Matt Spencer single to trim the deficit to 5-3. The Diamond Jaxx answered with an RBI groundout for Carlos Triunfel to get the game back to a three-game lead of 6-3.

Both clubs traded runs once again in the seventh inning to put the score at 7-4 to close the game's scoring.

The clubs will play the second game of the series on Tuesday night at Pringles Park. Ty'Relle Harris will start for Tennessee on the mound. This is Harris' first start on the mound for the Smokies, and he's pitched two and two thirds scoreless innings since joining Tennessee on Wednesday. Steve Bray (7-9, 4.38 ERA) will pitch for the Lookouts. The game begins at 8:05 p.m., and fans can listen to the contest on the Smokies Radio Network.

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Southern League Stories from August 23, 2010


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