SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies' rally Friday night comes up short, 4-2

Published on August 15, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Friday night's tussle between the Tennessee Smokies and Birmingham Barons did not have the offensive fireworks displayed by the two teams through the first three games of this week's series at Smokies Park. Birmingham's four runs Friday night though were enough to take out the Smokies, 4-2, in front of 5,582 fans.

Smokies starter Donnie Veal settled into a groove after a somewhat rough start in the early innings. Scoreless through two, the Barons put the first run up on the board in the top of the third. Third baseman C.J. Lang scored on a Miguel Negron single to center to make it 1-0 Barons. Following a Lee Cruz solo home run one inning later, Lang again came across home, this time on a bases-loaded walk by Veal to Negron.

Down 3-0, the Smokies crawled back in the fifth and sixth innings to close the Barons lead to 3-2. Consecutive doubles by Sam Fuld and Nate Spears brought Fuld into score, cutting the Barons' lead to 3-1. Tyler Colvin's solo home run in the sixth off Barons starter Justin Cassel made it 3-2 Birmingham.

That's as close as the Smokies would get though as the Barons' recorded three inning-ending strikeouts in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to close out the game. The Smokies' Jake Fox, Sam Fuld and Doug Deeds all took called-third strikeouts to end potential Smokies' rallies. In those final three innings, a total of six Smokies were left on base.

The Barons' Cassel (9-4) picked up the win Friday night, with Veal (4-9) suffering the loss for the Smokies. Cassel's teammate, reliever Jon Link, thre a perfect ninth to record his league-leading 33rd save of the year.

Veal threw six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out six. Reliever Greg Reinhard allowed one run on two hits in two innings of work. Teammate Jose Ceda threw a scoreless ninth in the loss, striking out two.

The Smokies and Barons wrap up the five-game set Saturday night at Smokies Park. Lucas Harrell (3-2, 3.16) will go for Birmingham, with Mark Holliman (2-4, 4.67) scheduled for the Smokies. The first 2,000 fans in Saturday night with paid admission get a 2008-09 Smokies dog calendar. Ticket information can be found online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from August 15, 2008


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