Tennessee Smoke Out Carolina
Published on April 29, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
Sevierville, TN --- Jay Jackson carried a three-hit shutout into the eighth inning, along with hitting his first professional home run as Tennessee claimed the five-game series with Carolina 8-4 at Smokies Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Jackson (W, 1-3) entered the game with three straight losses to begin his Double-A career and an ERA of 9.45, but commanded his four-pitch repertoire to stymie Carolina's bats. Tennessee (10-9) pushed ahead 1-0 in the third against Mudcats starter Misael DeJesus (L, 1-2) after a walk and a sacrifice, followed by a two-out single by Jonathan Mota.
The game remained 1-0 until Jackson, a former two-way player at Furman who was drafted just last year, cracked a 2-1 pitch from DeJesus over the right field wall for a solo home run. DeJesus permitted another homer to Ty Wright leading off the sixth as the Smokies went ahead 3-0.
Carolina (8-12) finally chased Jackson from the game in the eight after a single by Jose Castro and a pinch-walk to Eric Eymann. Vince Perkins relieved Jackson, and despite wildness, managed to limit the Mudcats to just a single run. Carolina had loaded the bases with none out, then scored its run on a passed ball, but Perkins retired three straight hitters to leave the inning.
Tennessee put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Camilo Vazquez. Trailing 8-1 in the ninth, the Mudcats scratched across three runs, one driven home on another single from Castro, and the final two runs scoring on a dropped pop fly by shortstop Darwin Barney wandering far back into left-centerfield.
DeJesus worked 5 1/3 innings, permitting seven hits and four runs (three earned). Alexander Smit pitched for his first time in the series, allowing two hits and an unearned run over his 1 2/3 frames.
The Mudcats were outhit 11-6, with Castro pacing the offense going 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Chris Heisey extended his hitting streak to eight games with an eighth inning single to right.
Carolina opens a 10-game homestand on Thursday night against Chattanooga at 7:15 PM ET with Dallas Buck (2-1, 3.47) starting against Jesus Castillo (0-2, 5.68). The Lookouts presently have the worst record in the Southern League at 5-14 pending the outcome of their series finale this afternoon against Huntsville.
Southern League Stories from April 29, 2009
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- Tickets Still Available for GT vs. UT Baseball Game - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Tickets Still Available for GT vs. UT Baseball Game - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Jackson a one-man show in Smokies 8-4 win Wednesday - Knoxville Smokies
- Jaxx rained out on Wednesday - Jackson Generals
- Lookouts' Lambo Launches Walk-off Homer - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Walk Off Win for Looks to End Trip - Huntsville Stars
- Tennessee Smoke Out Carolina - Knoxville Smokies
- Diamond Jaxx activate LHP Danny Christensen, place LHP Robert Rohrbaugh on DL - Jackson Generals
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