Smokies rally to 10-5 win over Mudcats Saturday night
September 5, 2010 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
ZEBULON, NC - The Tennessee Smokies scored nine unanswered runs over the final four innings to rally past the Carolina Mudcats 10-5 Saturday night at Five County Stadium. With the victory, the Smokies have evened up the series at one win a piece, and puts the Smokies at 42-26 for the second half, 84-53 overall. The loss puts Carolina at 28-38 for the second half, 58-77 overall.
For the first five innings, hits were hard to find for the Smokies. Mudcats starter Jordan Hotchkiss held the Smokies to only one run on two hits over the first five frames. Led by Russ Canzler who went 3-for-5, with five RBI, the Smokies bats caught fire over the final four innings putting up nine unanswered runs on 12 hits.
Tennessee struck first in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead on a lead off home run by Steve Clevenger.
The Mudcats would strike back in the bottom half of the frame Chris Denove scored on a Shane Carlson single off Smokies starter Ryan Buchter, who was making a spot-start for Tennessee. Felix Perez then drove in Kyle Day to give the Mudcats a 2-1 lead.
Carolina would touch Buchter for two more runs in the third inning. Then added one more run in the fifth inning when Jake Kahauleio hit a home run off Smokies reliever Corey Martin, extending the Mudcats lead to 5-1.
Back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning by Brandon Guyer and Canzler would narrow the Mudcats lead to 5-2.
The Smokies would plate another run in the seventh inning when David Macias doubled and would later score on a Tony Campana single narrowing the deficit to 5-3.
Brett Jackson and Guyer would lead off the eighth inning with back-to-back singles, and each would move up a base on a double steal. After a Matt Spencer walk, Canzler singled driving home Jackson and Guyer, and moving Spencer to third. Clevenger grounded into a double play, but Spencer would score on the play giving the Smokies their first lead of the night, 6-5.
Tennessee would keep the momentum going to the ninth inning. A lead-off single by Macias, who would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Samson, and then to third on a Campana single. Jackson then grounded out, scoring Macias. Guyer singled, moving Jackson to second. Matt Spencer followed with a base hit, scoring Jackson. Canzler finished off the Smokies attack with a double to right field, scoring Guyer and Spencer giving the Smokies the commanding 10-5 lead.
Kyle Smit (5-1) earned the win for Tennessee throwing a scoreless seventh inning. Blake Parker kept the Mudcats scoreless over the final two innings to pick up his fifth save of the season.
The two teams will battle it out in Game 3 Sunday night at 6:15 at Five County Stadium. Tennessee will send Chris Archer (8-2, 1.85) against Carolina's James Avery (2-3, 6.09). Fans can catch the action on the Smokies Radio Network via the team's website at www.smokiesbaseball.com.
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