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Tennessee falls three-games-to-one to Jacksonville in Southern League finals

September 20, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Game 4 of the Southern League Championship Series evolved into a microcosm of the Tennessee Smokies season. The Smokies fought valiantly in Saturday night's must-win game against the Jacksonville Suns, but fell just short as the Suns dashed the Smokies' title hopes with a 7-3 win over Tennessee at Smokies Park.

Things looked good early on for the Smokies. Tony Thomas' bases-loaded double off Jacksonville starter Elih Villanueva in the bottom of the second brought home Blake Lalli and Marquez Smith to give the Smokies a 2-0 lead.

After Jacksonville cut the Smokies' lead to 2-1 in the top of the third, Tennessee answered right back. Ty Wright hit his first home run of the postseason, a solo shot, in the bottom of the frame to increase the Smokies' lead to 3-1.

Things began to unravel though for the Smokies in the fourth. With runners on first and second and two out, Villanueva crushed Andrew Cashner's 2-1 pitch well over the left field wall to give the Suns their first lead of the game at 4-3. Cashner would leave the game after the fourth, allowing four runs on four hits, walking three and striking out one.

Tennessee's bullpen did not fare much better over the next couple of innings. While Dustin Sasser threw a scoreless fifth, Jacksonville added to their lead with two runs in the sixth, and one more in the seventh, off relievers Jayson Ruhlman and Alex Maestri to go up 7-3.

While the score would stay the game for the rest of the game, the Smokies would make things interesting in the ninth. Ty Wright and Blake Lalli reached base to start the bottom of the ninth. The mini-rally would be for naught though as Jacksonville's Matt Peterson (S, 3) closed out the Smokies to give Jacksonville the game, the series and the Southern League championship.

Jacksonville OF Bryan Petersen was named the Southern League Championship Series Most Valuable Player following the game. Petersen hit .474 (9-for-19) in the finals for the Suns.

Tennessee finished the 2009 Southern League playoffs with a 4-4 record. With a 2009 regular-season record of 71-69, the Smokies finished the year two games over .500 at 75-73. The Smokies' 2010 home schedule will kick off on April 14 against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Fans are encouraged to stay up-to-date with the Smokies during the offseason on the team's Web site at www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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