Smokies Lose Fifth Straight 7-6
Published on July 9, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After not scoring in the past three games, the Tennessee Smokies reversed that trend on Friday night, but ultimately fell 7-6 to the Jacksonville Suns at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Friday night.
It is the first time that the Smokies have lost a road series in 2010. Tennessee had previously won six series and split two in road series. The loss also extended Tennessee's losing streak to a season-long five games.
Jacksonville starter Andrew Miller won his first game of the season, as he went five and a third innings while giving up four runs on eight hits. Miller struck out five as he improved to 1-5 in 2010. Smokies starter Jeremy Papelbon took the loss in his return to the starting rotation. Papelbon gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits in four innings of work, and is now 1-1 in 2010.
Once again Jacksonville took the early lead, as Chris Hatcher hit a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the second to give the Suns the 2-0 advantage. Jacksonville added to their lead in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer by Lee Mitchell to extend the lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, the inning appeared to be over as Ryan Curry grounded out. However after both teams were in the dugout and the Smokies were preparing to bat, it was ruled that Curry was allowed to reach first base on catcher's interference. However after the delay and an Oswaldo Martinez single, the Smokies would get out of the inning without allowing any more runs to score.
Tennessee ended their 39 and two thirds innings scoreless streak in the top of the fifth inning. Nate Samson hit a soft RBI single to right field that scored Russ Canzler to end the drought and put the score at 4-1. The Smokies were just two and a third innings away from tying the Southern League record of 42 consecutive innings, set by the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx earlier this season.
Facing Tennessee reliever Aaron Shafer, the Suns got the run back in the bottom of the fifth with Mitchell's second homer of the game. The solo shot to left field gave Jacksonville a 5-1 lead.
Josh Vitters got the Smokies within two runs in the top of the sixth. Vitters hit his fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot to left field to put the score at 5-3. Canzler followed the Vitters homer with a triple, and he was driven in by Robinson Chirinos' double to get Tennessee within a run at 5-4.
The Suns answered Tennessee's three run sixth by scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Vinny Rottino's RBI double extended Jacksonville's lead to 6-4, and then a wild pitch brought him in to give the Suns a 7-4 advantage.
In the top of the eighth, Chirinos hit his tenth homer of the season, a two-run shot that got Tennessee within one run as it set the score at 7-6 in favor of the Suns. Brandon Guyer followed with a single, but during the at-bat of Marwin Gonzalez was picked off at first base for the inning's second out. Guyer argued the call and was ejected from the ballgame.
Gonzalez reached on a single to extend the inning. Facing Suns reliever Wade Korpi, Blake Lalli singled to put runners at second and first. Jacksonville manager Tim Leiper brought in his third pitcher of the inning, Jhan Martinez, to face Tony Thomas. Tennessee's Thomas popped out to the second baseman to end the scoring opportunity for the Smokies, with Jacksonville still on top 7-6.
Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his sixth save of the season as he preserved Jacksonville's 7-6 win.
The clubs will play the fourth and final game of the series on Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Chris Carpenter (6-4, 3.16 ERA) will take the mound for the Smokies against Jacksonville's Jeff Allison (5-4, 3.49 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and fans can listen to the game on the Smokies Radio Network.
Southern League Stories from July 9, 2010
- Suns Take Third Straight from Smokies - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Stars Trump Lookouts, 8-2 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Smokies Lose Fifth Straight 7-6 - Knoxville Smokies
- Biscuits and BayBears Postponed - Montgomery Biscuits
- BayBears, Biscuits Postponed in Montgomery - Mobile BayBears
- Martinez Added To Roster Friday - Knoxville Smokies
- RHP Hand Promoted to Nashville; RHP Lamontagne Assigned to Huntsville - Huntsville Stars
- Dan Nelson to Myrlte Beach - Mississippi Braves
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