SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Stars derail Smokies 15-1

Published on May 10, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Sevierville, TN - The Tennessee Smokies returned home to Smokies Park after their longest road swing of the 2008 season, riding three game winning streak. That all came to an end on Saturday night as the North Division leading Huntsville Stars pounded the Smokies by the score of 15-1. A still energetic crowd of 5,429 watched the Smokies drop to 15-21 on the season.

From the early going, the Stars jumped on Smokies starting pitcher Jeff Samardzjia (3-3) and never let up. Huntsville scored runs in each of the first four innings of the game, chasing Samardzija out of the contest after pitching just 2 2/3 innings. On the night, Samardzija allowed seven runs on six hits, walked four batters and struck out two. Matt Avery came on in relief and did not fare much better, allowing an additional five runs as Huntsville jumped out to a 12-0 lead after four innings.

The Smokies offense could do very little against Stars left-hander Steve Hammond (5-1), who pitched a gem of a game. Hammond allowed just four hits over 6 1/3 innings, while striking out ten Smokies batters. The lone Smokies run came in the seventh inning after newly acquired outfielder Jake Fox singled to lead off the inning. Fox, who was with the Smokies the primary portion of the 2007 season, later scored off a Chris Robinson bases loaded walk. That would be all the Smokies offense could muster as the Stars added an additional three runs in the top half of the eighth inning.

The Smokies will look to even the score against the Stars on Sunday afternoon beginning at 5:00 pm at Smokies Park. Tennessee will send left-hander Donnie Veal (2-1, 2.67) to the mound to face off against Huntsville left-hander Derek Miller (3-1, 2.45). The series will continue through Wednesday afternoon.

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Southern League Stories from May 10, 2008


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