Walk-off Gets Smokies a Split in Doubleheader
Published on May 26, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Heading into Tuesday night's twinbill with the Huntsville Stars, the Tennessee Smokies were 0-14 when trailing after seven innings. So with the Smokies down 6-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the odds were stacked against the home team pulling out a win.
Smokies OFs Brandon Guyer and Jim Adduci had other plans. Each hit three-run home runs in the sixth and seventh innings respectively, with the latter off Huntsville reliever Robert Hinton giving the Smokies a thrilling 8-6 Game 1 walk-off win in front of 1,702 at Smokies Park.
Tennessee was not as fortunate in Game 2. A 7-1 loss to Huntsville ensured the Smokies would remain two back of Huntsville for first in the Southern League North Division.
Tennessee starter Marcos Mateo got off to a slow start in the opener. He would allow runs in the first and second, putting the Smokies in a 2-0 hole. Mateo would settle down over the next couple of innings, allowing only the two runs on six hits, striking out three. He would walk two.
After Huntsville torched Smokies reliever David Cales for four runs in the top of the sixth, Guyer would come to the rescue. With two-out and runners on second and third, he drove a Juan Sandoval pitch over the wall in left-center to make it 6-5 Huntsville. It was his first home run of 2009.
Adduci's heroics off Hinton (0-3) would finish off the Stars. He followed consecutive two-out singles by teammates Russ Canzler and Ty Wright with a drive over the Mayfield Dairy sign in right-center, enabling Smokies reliever Todd Blackford (1-0) to get his first win of the year.
That momentum would not carry over to Game 2 for the Smokies. James Russell's four runs allowed in the first were too much for the home team to overcome. Russell (2-3) would give up the four runs in five innings pitched, allowing five hits and one walk. Four of his six strikeouts did come in the first inning, which also saw Stars' winning pitcher Donovan Hand (3-1) give up his only run of the game.
Tennessee's Hung-Wen Chen (2-3, 5.06) will take the mound in Game 3 of the series with Huntsville Wednesday night at 7:15 p.m. Huntsville will counter with RHP Mike Jones (0-0, 0.00)
Southern League Stories from May 26, 2009
- Barons Earn First Tuesday Win - Birmingham Barons
- Torra Strong as BayBears Open Homestand with Win - Mobile BayBears
- Walk-off Gets Smokies a Split in Doubleheader - Knoxville Smokies
- Biscuits Drop Opener to Cats, 5-4 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Huntsville Bounces Back From Tough Loss in Opener - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears Power Past Suns on Tuesday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Mudcats Take Sixth Straight - Carolina Mudcats
- Jaxx and Lookouts Washed Out on Tuesday - Jackson Generals
- Barons Off To Best Start Since 1989 - Birmingham Barons
- Barons Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2009 - Birmingham Barons
- Bucci Joins Stars - Huntsville Stars
- Smith Wins Southern League 'Hitter of the Week' Award - Knoxville Smokies
- Southern League Announces Hitter and Pitcher of the Week - SL1
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
