SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Tennessee allows 14 hits, only able to muster five following rain delay

Published on May 15, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - A 48-minute rain delay to start Friday night's rubber match between the Tennessee Smokies and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx seemed to do a lot more harm than good for the home team. The Smokies could never find their groove as they fell 9-2 to the Diamond Jaxx at Smokies Park. The loss, in front of 3,546, drops the Smokies to only 0.5 games in front of the Huntsville for first place in the Southern League North Division.

Tennessee starter Marcos Mateo struggled to find the strike zone early in Friday's contest. The Diamond Jaxx scored two runs in the second inning, the first on a towering home run by Greg Halman to left. Teammate Johan Limonta followed with a double, and then scored on a Guillermo Quiroz single to give the Diamond Jaxx the early 2-0 lead.

After West Tenn extended their lead to 3-0 with a run in the fifth, the Smokies finally answered back. Richie Robnett sent a ball off West Tenn starter Justin Souza 380 feet to right, to cut the West Tenn lead to 3-1. Jonathan Mota then crushed a double to right field, and moved to third on a passed ball. He would score on a sacrifice fly from Darwin Barney to close the gap to 3-2.

Tennessee's chances were short-lived however, as West Tenn tacked on two runs in the seventh off Smokies reliever James Russell. Four more runs in the eighth off reliever David Cales completed the scoring and all but put the nail in the coffin for Tennessee.

Souza (2-2) picked up the win for West Tenn, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings, striking out six. Mateo (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

The Smokies now head south on I-75 for a five-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The Smokies return home next Thursday, May 21, to kick off a 10-day homestand. Tickets can be purchased online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling the Smokies at (865) 286-2300.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES The Tennessee Smokies are the minor league Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the 10-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for almost 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com - powered by Comcast.

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Southern League Stories from May 15, 2009


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