Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Photo by Lloyd Loveday, SevierCountyNews.com Sports.

The Smokies' Jake Fox attempts to put Cameron Maybin of the Carolina Mudcats out at first Tuesday night.

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Should the Tennessee Smokies win the second half North Division championship this year, they will have to overcome great odds as the Carolina Mudcats sent them to their fourth straight loss by the score of 4-3 tonight. The loss dropped the Smokies to 23-22 for the second half of the season, and five games behind the Mudcats for first place in the division.

The Smokies found ways to give Carolina runs throughout this entire series, but the Mudcats also had explosive bats all week long. Cameron Maybin got the scoring started tonight with his thirteenth home run of the season, a 420-foot shot in the second inning, to give the Mudcats a 1-0 lead. Carolina would score two more runs off Smokies starter Mark Holliman in the fourth, who suddenly ran into control problems. Maybin hit an RBI single with one out, and then Holliman would walk three consecutive batters to plate another run for Carolina. The Smokies would escape the inning without any further damage but were down 3-0.

Tennessee would come back again to tie up the game in the bottom of the sixth. After an RBI single by Tyler Colvin in the fourth pulled the Smokies to within two, the Smokies would score two runs in the sixth thanks in part to a two RBI double by Doug Deeds to score Sam Fuld and Nate Spears.

The game would remain tied at three until the top of the ninth, as the Smokies Casey Lambert (1-2) pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning. Lambert would give up a leadoff single to John Raynor, the Southern League’s stolen base leader. On a pickoff attempt, Lambert threw wildly past first baseman Jake Fox to advance the speedy Raynor to third. After retiring the next batter, Chris Coghlan would double home Raynor for the eventual winning run.

Jeff Gogal (6-2) picked up the win for the Mudcats after one inning of work, with Chris Mobley earning his 20th save of the season. Deeds would go two for four on the night driving in two runs, with Colvin and Matt Camp both having multiple hit nights.

The Smokies will now hit the road for a five-game set against the Chattanooga Lookouts, returning to Smokies Park on Tuesday August 12th to face off against the Birmingham Barons. Game times for all five games at Smokies Park are set for 7:15 pm.

Tennessee Smokies Baseball – It’s A Nine Inning Vacation! Call (865) 286-2300 for tickets or purchase tickets on line at www.smokiesbaseball.com.