Smokies Hang On To Beat Chattanooga 6-5 Tuesday Night
Published on April 17, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
The Smokies outlasted the Lookouts in a 6-5 finish at AT&T Field on Tuesday night in front of 4,063 fans.
Chris Robinson and Brian Dopirak both slugged homers to right field, giving the Smokes an early 3-0 lead after a half inning.
The Lookouts countered in the second inning with a double by Cody Strait and an error by Jemel Spearman putting runners at second and third. Tonys Gutierrez followed with a ground out which brought in the first run for the Chattanooga.
Tennessee would pad their lead by scoring a run in the fourth and the fifth inning, respectively.
The Smokies tallied a valuable insurance run in the top of the eighth. They took advantage of a throwing error by Lookouts relief pitcher Derrik Lutz on a Chris Walker bunt. The errant throw to first resulted in a 6-1 Tennessee lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Chattanooga began to rally back. It started when Jay Garthwaite reached on a fielding error by third baseman Jemel Spearman. Drew Anderson followed with a walk then a single by Paul Janish loaded the bases. Chris Dickerson drove in one with a base hit. Cody Strait was then doubled up but Anderson scored on the play making the score 6-3.
The Smokies defense nearly collapsed in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. First, Luis Bolivar reached first base on an error by second baseman Issmael Salas. Then Jay Garthwaite followed with a single. The next two batters, Drew Anderson and Paul Janish, both reached on fielding errors committed by third baseman Jemel Spearman which scored two runs. Tennessee's lead slipped to 6-5 and with the bases loaded Cody Strait hit a ball sharply to Jemel Spearman, who had already committed four errors on the evening, two of which in the inning. Spearman, however, fielded the ball cleanly and threw to second baseman Issmael Salas for the force and final out.
Mark Holiman (1-0) threw seven innings of two-hit ball to earn the win for the Smokies, while James Avery (1-2) took the loss for the Lookouts after yielding five runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
Tennessee has won a season high three straight games and is now tied for first in the SL North with Huntsville. The Smokies go for the series win tomorrow night when they turn to right hander Sean Gallagher. The Lookouts will counter with lefty Camilo Vazquaz tomorrow night, 7:15 at AT&T Field.
Southern League Stories from April 17, 2007
- Barons trounce Biscuits, 10-1 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Diory Delievers Braves in Extra Innings - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies Hang On To Beat Chattanooga 6-5 Tuesday Night - Knoxville Smokies
- Stars Score Early, Often In Tuesday Victory Over Suns - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Katin "Krushes" and Parra Pitches Stars to Victory - Huntsville Stars
- Another ninth-inning homer lifts Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Joe W. Davis Stadium can be a Star - OSC Original by Marc Viquez
- Francisley Bueno Activated - Mississippi Braves
- Barons slip past Biscuits in 10, 2-1 - Montgomery Biscuits
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