Tennesse tops Carolina 4-3
April 26, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
Sevierville, TN --- Two walks, two errors and a ball lost in the perfectly blue, sunny skies cost Carolina three unearned runs in the seventh inning as Tennessee defeated the Mudcats 4-3 at Smokies Park on Sunday afternoon.
Starting pitcher Travis Wood, who entered the game winless over his first three starts despite an ERA of 0.57, took a 3-1 lead into the Smokies' seventh when bad luck reared its ugly head again. Wood walked the leadoff hitter, then witnessed Darwin Barney's flyball into right-center drop alongside Sean Henry, who was the second Carolina right fielder to lose a fight with a flyball due to the intense sunshine. Another walk filled the bases before Wood was relieved by Derrik Lutz, forcing the Mudcats lefty to watch his fate from the dugout.
Lutz induced a grounder to third with Juan Francisco throwing home for a force out, but the inning raced downhill after the first out. Jonanthan Mota then hit a weak grounder to Francisco, who kicked it away for his sixth error in 16 games, as Tennessee (9-7) closed to 3-2. The next hitter James Adduci bounced to first baseman Logan Parker, who whipped a throw to second, but shortstop Zach Cozart dropped the throw at the bag allowing Tennessee to tie the game. Ty Wright then singled to left putting the Smokies ahead 4-3, but Todd Frazier gunned down Mota attempting to score.
When the dust settled, Wood (L, 0-3) was charged with all three runs in the seventh, all unearned and suffered his third loss as his ERA rose slightly to 0.83. The first Tennessee run scored in the fourth as Michael Griffin, then playing right field, lost a two-out flyball in the sun from Kyle Reynolds, permitting Wright to score to tie the game 1-1.
Carolina, which lost its fourth straight, claimed a 1-0 lead in the first against former Reds signee Marcos Mateo. The Mudcats filled the bases with none out before Francisco fanned. Frazier bounced to third, but the Smokies could not turn the double play as Griffin scored for the lead.
The Mudcats pushed ahead 3-1 in the sixth on a Francisco double, which scored Chris Heisey, then a two-out double from Eric Eymann.
James Russell (W, 1-2) earned the win in relief of Mateo, working 3 1/3 innings, permitting two unearned runs.
Justin Mallett (0-0, 0.00) makes his Carolina debut Monday night at 7:15 PM ET against Hung-Wen Chen (2-1, 4.08).
Southern League Stories from April 26, 2009
- Smokies score three in the seventh to win Sunday - Knoxville Smokies
- Jaxx lose 6-4 on Sunday - Jackson Generals
- Suns Come Back to Grab Game Two, 6-4 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Suns Rally for Sunday Win over Biscuits - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Gartrell Slams Barons to Victory over BayBears - Mobile BayBears
- Tennesse tops Carolina 4-3 - Carolina Mudcats
- Stars Top Lookouts, 3-1 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Sterling Sunday Pitching Peformance for Stars - Huntsville Stars
- Taylor Heads to Marlins - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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