Smokies make it two in a row with Saturday night win
Published on June 6, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Having eliminated the proverbial monkey from their backs on Friday, the Tennessee Smokies came out Saturday night with a great sense of confidence against the Chattanooga Lookouts. It paid off as the Smokies (23-34) downed the Lookouts (23-33), 5-3, in front of 5,535 at Smokies Park. The win is the second in a row for the Smokies.
Tennessee did not allow a leadoff run in the first by Chattanooga deter them in the least bit. Tony Thomas would help manufacture a run for the Smokies in the bottom of the frame, starting with a leadoff single to left. After stealing second, he was moved to third on a Jim Adduci groundout. Darwin Barney would bring Thomas home with a single to center.
The Smokies would more than match another Lookouts run in the second. Down 2-1, Welington Castillo hit a one-out double that brought home Tyler Colvin to tie the game at two. After Chattanooga starter James Adkins (2-5) walked Hung-Wen Chen, Thomas would double down the left field line to score Castillo and give the Tennessee their first lead of the game at 3-2.
The Smokies weren't done though. Adduci followed Thomas' double with a double of his own that dropped just inside the right field line. Chen and Thomas would both come around to score on the hit, giving the Smokies a 5-2 lead.
Smokies pitching would ensure the early lead would hold. While Chen would give up a third run to Chattanooga in the fourth, he'd pick up the win Saturday. Chen (3-5) allowed three runs on nine hits in five innings, striking out four. Relievers Jake Muyco and John Gaub combined to strikeout four across three scoreless innings. Brian Schlitter (S, 7) threw a scoreless ninth to get the save.
The Smokies and Lookouts continue their five-game series Sunday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. at Smokies Park. Former University of Tennessee pitcher Josh Lindblom (3-3, 4.52) will get the ball for Chattanooga, while Tennessee will counter with Casey Coleman (4-2, 2.91). Tickets can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.
Southern League Stories from June 6, 2009
- Smokies make it two in a row with Saturday night win - Knoxville Smokies
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- With Murph in the House, BayBears Fall in 11 - Mobile BayBears
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- Barons Nearly Shut Out Biscuits Again; Win 6-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Biscuits Stifled Again in Game Two, 6-1 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Feiner Activated from DL - Carolina Mudcats
- Burrell to Rehab with Biscuits - Montgomery Biscuits
- Mudcats Make Roster Move - Carolina Mudcats
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