SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Rally Again, 7-6

July 15, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Sevierville, TN - For the second consecutive night, the Tennessee Smokies scored three runs in the ninth inning to come from behind, this time with a 7-6 win over the visiting Mobile BayBears. The crowd of 3,246 was entertained with 9th inning comeback as the Smokies improved to 13-12 for the second half of the season. The bulk of the scoring in today's game came early on, as both the BayBears and Smokies hitters touched up both starting pitchers. In the BayBears first inning, Emilio Bonafacio greeted newly acquired Smokies starter Ryan O'Malley rudely with a single to left field.

Carlos Gonzalez continued his hot hitting for Mobile with a double to center field, which scored a run. Ronnie Merrill followed with a double of his own to score Gonzalez, and then scored on an RBI single by Jarred Ball. When it was all said and done, Mobile had a 3-0 lead. Tennessee struck right back in the bottom half of the first to help out O'Malley. Jake Fox got the two out rally with a single to continue his torrid hitting this series off BayBears starter Brooks Brown. Matt Craig then crushed a double off the center field wall to score Fox and pull within 3-1. Casey McGehee stroked a single to center field to bring Craig around, and moved to third on a hard hit single by Jorge Cortes. Chris Robinson smoked a hard hit ball that third baseman Rusty Ryal could not handle to bring home McGehee.

After one complete inning, the score was tied 3-3. The Smokies took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth, thanks in part again to the hot-hitting Fox. After a two-out single by Issmael Salas, Fox strode to the plate and proceeded to rip a double over center fielder Justin Upton's head to score Salas. With a 4-3 lead, Craig singled on a line drive to center fielded by Upton, who gunned the ball home. Fox bowled over catcher Wilkin Castillo, but he somehow held onto the ball and Fox was called out at home.

Mobile evened the score at 4-4 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ronnie Merrill to score Gonzalez, and then took the lead from the Smokies in the top of the eighth inning. The highly touted 1st round draft pick Upton cracked a line drive two-run home run over the right center field wall to stake Mobile to a 6-4 lead.

For the second consecutive night, the Smokies mounted a huge rally in the bottom of the ninth. With Sam Fuld on first with nobody out, Issmael Salas walked. Fox drilled a single to left center field to load the bases for Craig, who smoked a high line drive over the head of Upton to the center field wall to bring both Fuld and Salas home and tie the game at 6-6. Pinch hitter Joe Simokaitis drilled a hard line drive right at Bonifacio, who got Fox out at home with the force play. Chris Robinson then hit a high chopper to Merrill Jr., who gunned the ball home late to get the sliding Craig. After being called safe for the winning run, the entire Smokies dugout emptied and celebrated at home plate for the second consecutive night. Adalberto Mendez (3-3) picked up the win for the Smokies after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Abe Woody (4-6) took the loss giving up three runs in the ninth inning. The Smokies have an off day on Monday, then take to the road to face the Huntsville Stars in a key North Division five-game series. Tennessee will return home to Smokies Park on Monday July 23rd to face the Carolina Mudcats for a five game series. Tennessee Smokies Baseball - It's A Nine Inning Vacation! Call (865) 286-2300 for tickets or purchase tickets on line at www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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Southern League Stories from July 15, 2007


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