Smokies Win in 11th
July 18, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
Birmingham, Ala.- Scott Krause drew a bases loaded walk in the 11th inning to force in the winning run as Tennessee (19-8, 54-43) opened a four game series at Birmingham (14-12, 47-47) with a 5-4 win. In a match-up of division leaders, the teams combined for 4 errors and 20 runners left on base.
Chris Weekly reached base to start the eleventh on an error by shortstop Guillermo Reyes and advanced when Kris McWhirter (L, 1-5) walked Skip Schumaker. John Nelson advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt before Papo Bolivar was intentionally walked to load the bases. Scott Dunn was brought in to face Bucky Jacobsen and struck him out on three pitches. He wasn't so accurate with Krause, walking him on a 3-1 pitch to force in the winning run.
Kevin Sprague earned his second save by working around a lead off single in the 11th.
The back and forth affair got ugly as the game grew old. Tennessee committed a pair of errors in the 9th inning to allow Birmingham to tie the game at 4. With Mike Lyons (W, 3-3) looking for his franchise tying 27th save of the season, Scott Bikowski reached base on a lead off walk, and was safe at second a batter later when John Nelson dropped the ball on a force out. Following a sacrifice bunt by Guillermo Reyes, Tommy Nicholson sent a sharp ground ball to second baseman Chris Weekly. Weekly missed the ball, and right fielder Kevan Burns overran it for the innings second error, allowing pitch running pitcher Mitch Wylie to score the tying run.
The first five batters of eighth inning reached base for Tennessee against reliever Matt Smith with Kevan Burns and Corey Erickson picking up RBI singles to put the Smokies ahead 4-2. Smith was replaced by Jim Bullard with the bases loaded and no out, and Bullard kept Tennessee off the scoreboard the rest of the inning, stranding three.
Tennessee stranded 13 base runners in the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the 8th and 11th innings.
Following the game the Cardinals promoted Smokies reliever Jeremy Lambert to Triple A Memphis. The Smokies will receive B.R. Cook from Memphis to take Lambert's place.
Tennessee and Birmingham meet in the second game of the series Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. Julio Villalon (3-1, 2.41) will start for the Smokies against Mitch Wylie (2-2, 5.20).
Southern League Stories from July 18, 2003
- Smokies Win in 11th - Knoxville Smokies
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- Suns comeback falls short - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Josh Hall too much for BayBears - Mobile BayBears
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- Orlando's Chad Gaudin Earns SL Honors - Orlando Rays
- Future Star Wins Golden Spikes Award - Huntsville Stars
- Barons' Bats Reach Unprecedented Streak - Birmingham Barons
- Parrot heads coming to Municipal Stadium - Mississippi Braves
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- G-Braves Games to be Televised - Mississippi Braves
- Stars Drop Series Finale, 3-1 - Huntsville Stars
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