Smokies Win a Close One
Published on July 26, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
Sevierville, TN --- A two-run rally in the last of the seventh spurred the Tennessee Smokies to a doubleheader sweep of the Carolina Mudcats, winning the opener 3-2 then blanking Carolina in the nightcap 3-0 at Smokies Park on Thursday night.
The Mudcats took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, turning the ball over to closer Chris Mobley, who permitted a pinch-single by Issmael Salas, then a double to right by Sam Fuld. Jemel Spearman, who homered twice on Wednesday, drooped a 1-0 Mobley pitch inside the left field line to win the opener for the Smokies.
In the nightcap, Robinson Chirinos snapped an 0-16 career Double-A start, hitting a 2-1 pitch from starter Blake McGinley (L, 3-7) over the left field wall for a two-run homer to crack a 0-0 tie. Fuld followed with a sacrifice fly to center later in the inning for the final margin. Carolina brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Jai Miller grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
McGinley retired the first 10 batters he faced before allowing a single to Spearman in the fourth inning.
In the opener, trailing 1-0 in the fifth, Brett Hayes looped a single over first baseman Alan Rick to tie the game, then Johnny Raburn drove an opposite-field single to left to break the 1-1 tie. Gaby Hernandez, lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the fifth, worked four solid innings on just 48 pitches. Scott Nestor pitched two scoreless innings to get the game to Mobley for the seventh.
Tennessee leads the series 3-1 with the finale on Friday night. Jesus Silva starts for Carolina against Smokies RH Justin Berg at 7:15 PM ET.
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