SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Win Wild Card despite 6-5 Loss to Carolina

Published on September 2, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Zebulon, NC. -The Smokies were in the fifth inning of their game with Carolina Saturday Night when Huntsville knocked off Birmingham 7-4 which effectively eliminated Chattanooga from the playoff picture. Then with the Lookouts gone Tennessee was left standing as at least a wild card representative in the Southern League North Division.

The Smokies fell behind the Mudcats in the fourth inning. Grant Psomas scored on a Ryan Bear infield groundout making the score 1-0 Mudcats.

Tennessee evened the score at one in the fifth. Jemel Spearman tripled and then crossed home on a Casey McGehee groundout.

The Smokies would send nine to the plate in the sixth-inning. Chris Robinson doubled with one out and Gary Cates and Robinson Chirinos drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Sam Fuld followed a strikeout of pitcher Justin Berg with an two run scoring single and an error on Chase Lambin Carolina's short stop brought home a third run. Fuld then crossed home on a McGehee double.

The Smokies 5-1 lead was short lived however as what were originally scored as two error led to four Mudcats scores. Justin Berg missed a slow come backer off the bat of pitch hitter Rex Rundgren. Johnny Raburn followed with a single and after two were retired including a second run scoring ground out this time by Lambin Lee Mitchell walked. Psomas singled in a run followed by a line drive to left which hit off the glove of Jemel Spearman in the left centerfield gap allowing two more to score tying the game at five.

Carolina went ahead in the eighth on an Eric Riggs single which scored pitch hitter Jay Miller. Tomorrow afternoon the regular season ends with Jeff Samardzija (3-2) will start for Tennessee while Chris Volstad (3-2) is scheduled for the Carolina.

Tennessee will take Tuesday and Wednesday off and play again Thursday in game one of the Northern Divisional Series at Huntsville.

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Southern League Stories from September 2, 2007


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