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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Fall To Suns

August 30, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Sevierville, Tenn. - Brennan King and Derek Michaelis hit home runs off Smokies starter Jeremy Cook (L, 0-3) as Jacksonville defeated Tennessee by the score of 4-2 in front of 4,068 fans Saturday night at Smokies Park. Tennessee fell a half game behind in the Eastern Division race, but due to Carolina's victory in Orlando, the Smokies clinched at least a wild card berth in the 2003 Southern League Playoffs.

The Suns got a run in the first on a Nick Alvarez sacrifice fly. Tennessee responded in the bottom half when Shaun Boyd hit a sacrifice fly to score Bucky Jacobsen.

King's blast came in the fourth with Michaelis aboard and was King's second homer in of the series.

Tennessee responded in the fifth on a Kevan Burns RBI double off Jacksonville starter Heath Totten (W, 11-12) to make the score 3-2. In the sixth, Jacksonville got the run back on a towering home run by Michaelis to right field.

The Smokies loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but stranded all three runners against Brandon Frasor. He earned his 17th save of the season after getting out of the jam. Tyler Johnson and Kevin Sprague made relief appearances for Tennessee and did not allow a run.

The Smokies will try to close in on the Eastern Division crown tomorrow evening against the Jacksonville Suns. Josh Axelson (4-2, 2.61) will pitch for the Smokies against Brian Pilkington (3-0, 3.60) of the Suns. First pitch is scheduled for 5 pm.

The Smokies can clinch the division with any combination of wins and Carolina losses totaling four. Carolina will play double headers Sunday and Monday morning at Orlando to close the season, while Tennessee has two games remaining.

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