SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Looking to play the role of spoiler in Sunday’s first-half season finale against the Carolina Mudcats, the Tennessee Smokies executed their part successfully and handed the Mudcats a 8-6 defeat in front of 3,915 at Smokies Park.  With the win, the Smokies (32-38) took 4-of-5 from the Mudcats and prevented Carolina the opportunity to play in a one-game playoff with the Huntsville Stars on Monday for the first-half Southern League North Division crown.

Carolina came out strong early though following a one-hour, three-minute rain delay before the game started, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the second.  Logan Parker’s double off Tennessee starter Casey Lambert sailed past CF Tyler Colvin and scored Zack Cozart.  Parker then came around from second on an Eric Eymann single up the middle, making it 2-0 Carolina. 

Tennessee immediately responded in the bottom half of the frame.  Marquez Smith hit a liner off Mudcats starter Alexander Smit that cleared the left field fence, cutting Carolina’s lead to 2-1.  After Blake Lalli and Russ Canzler followed with a double and a walk respectively, Welington Castillo blasted a three-run home run to left-center, giving the Smokies their first lead of the game at 4-2. 

Smith wasn’t done yet though.  He added another solo blast in the third, increasing the Smokies lead to 5-2.  Russ Canzler followed with a home run of his own, just beyond the outstretched glove of Carolina LF Todd Frazier to put the Smokies up 6-2. 

After the Mudcats put up three in the fifth to close the gap to 6-5, Tennessee added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to go up 8-5.  The lead would hold up as Smokies reliever Jake Muyco held Carolina scoreless in the sixth and seventh.  Brian Schlitter came on in the eighth and recorded the final six outs of the game for Tennessee, picking up his team-leading 11^th save of the year.   

Lambert (5-5) picked up the win Sunday night.  He allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings of work, striking out two.  Smit (2-2) was dealt the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in only 1.1 innings pitched.   

The Smokies will kick off the second half of their 2009 season Monday night with a six-game road trip in Montgomery.  The Smokies return home next Sunday, June 28, for a six-game homestand against the Huntsville Stars.  Tickets for the homestand, which will include Jimmy Buffett Night on the 28^th, Dog Days of Summer on the 29^th and the team’s annual holiday fireworks bash on July 3 can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com, by calling (865) 286-2300 or at the stadium ticket office.

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. 

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Thanks to another stellar performance by starter Esmailin Caridad, both on the mound and at the plate, the Tennessee Smokies pounded on the Chattanooga Lookouts Sunday afternoon, 10-1, in front of 3,807 at Smokies Park. Pending the outcome of the Carolina-Huntsville game, the Smokies will at worst remain six games off the pace for the second half Southern League North crown and a spot in the league playoffs.
With having to make up those six games in only nine games, the Smokies came out with a sense of urgency Sunday. Heading into the bottom of the third, the Smokies lashed out at Lookouts starter Travis Wood (3-9) for four runs in the frame. Seven consecutive singles brought in Matt Camp, Nate Spears, Jake Fox and Tyler Colvin, putting the Smokies up 4-0.
The best was yet to come though as Tennessee piled on six more runs in the fourth. Following a Sam Fuld double to left center, Matt Camp blasted a home run to right field, giving the Smokies a 6-0 lead. Castillo followed with a two-run single to left, scoring Fox and Spears to make it 8-0. Caridad even got in on the action, doubling down the right field line to bring in Castillo and Josh Lansford for two more insurance runs.
Caridad (7-3) did even more damage on the mound though, stifling the Lookouts for 6.2 innings. He would allow only one run on six hits, striking out four and walking one. Caridad would leave the game with two out in the bottom of the seventh, with the Smokies holding a commanding 10-1 lead.
Smokies relievers Dumas Garcia and Rocky Roquet finished off Chattanooga, throwing a combined 2.1 innings of relief. Garcia struck out two in 1.1 innings of work, with Roquet fanning one in the ninth to close out the game.
The I-75 battle continues Monday night with Grant Johnson (2-3, 6.57) taking the hill for the Smokies. Sam LeCure (9-7, 3.64) will counter for the Lookouts. Ticket information, including a "Buy One Get One Free" ticket special to all three weekday games this week at Smokies Park, can be found online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

MONTGOMERY, AL- The Tennessee Smokies (56-72, 29-29) dropped a close affair to the Montgomery Biscuits (66-61, 32-25) 6-4, at Riverwalk Stadium Wednesday night in front of 3,796. 

Montgomery built a four run lead by scoring in four of the first five innings. Erold Andrus had two runs batted in and Pat Cottrell crushed a three-run fifth inning homerun. 

Tyler Colvin supplied the Smokies with a quick blast of offence. He belted a two-run homerun in the fourth inning which made the score a short lived two run tie. 

Tennessee rallied for a pair of eighth inning runs to push the score to 6-4. Matt Matulia singled home Jake Fox for the second run. Doug Deeds got things going by belting a leadoff homerun. 

Neil Frontz held off the Smokies in the ninth to record his eighth save. He pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing three hits but no runs. He didn't walk a batter but had one strikeout. 

Grant Johnson started for Tennessee and was tabbed with the loss. He pitched 3 2/3 innings yielding five hits and three runs. Johnson walked four and struck out two before getting lifted during the fourth inning. 

The Smokies will return home to face the Carolina Mudcats in a five game series from August 23rd through 27th. The team returns home Saturday, August 23, playing the last regular season homestand of the year, against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Ticket information, including a "Buy One Get One Free" ticket deal to the last three games of the series, can be found online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

CHATTANOOGA - The Tennessee Smokies (52-68, 25-25) scored six in the fifth inning and knocked off the Chattanooga Lookouts (58-62, 21-29) 9-7, at AT&T Field Sunday afternoon in front of 2,326. Tyler Colvin belted a grand slam homerun in the fifth inning that broke a 2-2 tie.  The Lookouts struck first with two in the third. Tony Gutierrez singled home one and Chris Valaika followed with an RBI double.  The Smokies pounded home six runs in the fifth inning. Mark Holliman singled home Kyle Reynolds for the Smokies first score. Jake Fox tied the score with a bases loaded walk. Tyler Colvin then crushed a grand slam homerun capping of the inning.  Justin Turner doubled to start the fifth inning, and scored on a Gutierrez sacrifice fly making it 6-3.  The Lookouts added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Valaika lined a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left.  Tennessee took advantage of two costly Lookouts errors and scored three in the eighth. Matt Camp and Sam Fuld added run scoring singles while Nate Spears had a sacrifice fly.  Mark Holliman (2-4) pitched 5 innings, allowing 7 hits, three runs with 3 walks and four strikeouts.  The Smokies will return home to face the Birmingham Barons in a five game series from August 12th through 16th.

CHATTANOOGA - The Tennessee Smokies (51-66, 24-23) were blanked by the Chattanooga Lookouts (56-61, 19-28) 2-0, at AT&T Field Thursday night in front of 2,457. The Lookouts touched home first in the bottom of the second inning. Chris Denove singled home Drew Anderson. Sean Henry lined a solo homerun to leftfield and Chattanooga went ahead 2-0. Ben Jukich (9-4) was excellent in the start going 7 innings for Chattanooga. He shutout the Smokies on just eight singles with no walks and seven strikeouts. Esmailin Caridad (4-3) also pitched well but was tabbed with the loss. He went 6 innings allowing four hits and two runs. Robert Manuel (S-2) record the save by keeping the Smokies off the board in the eighth and ninth innings. Tennessee and Chattanooga will match up again tomorrow night. Grant Johnson (2-3) gets the start for the Smokies and Sam LaCure for the Lookouts. The Smokies will return home to face the Birmingham Barons in a five game series from August 12th through 16th.

Chattanooga, TN- The Tennessee Smokies (51-65, 24-22) out slugged the Chattanooga Lookouts (55-61, 18-28) 18-16, at AT&T Field Wednesday night in front of 2,159. The win snaps Tennessee’s fourth game losing streak.

Chattanooga got the bats going in the bottom of the first by scoring three quick runs. Danny Dorn slammed an opposite field homerun sending home a trio.

Jake Fox lined a solo homerun to left in the second. Kyle Reynolds later doubled home Tyler Colvin to make it 3-2 Chattanooga.

Chattanooga scored four runs in the second inning to go up 7-2. Sean Henry and Drew Stubbs had run scoring hits while Dorn smacked his second homer.

The Smokies stormed back to take the lead with a six run sixth inning 8-7. Blake Lalli lined a two-run bases loaded singled then Josh Lansfords crushed a three-run homerun.

Chattanooga regained the advantage 9-8 scoring a pair of runs in the third.

Tennessee evened the score at nine with a solo homerun by Fox in fourth. Colvin the tripled and scored on a Reynolds single. Lansford chipped in a RBI and pitcher Marco Carrillo singled home a run in the innings for a 12-9 Smokies lead.

Tennessee added another three spot in the seventh to make it 15-10. Deeds touched hammered a two-run homerun. Colvin also contributed a run producing hit.

The Lookouts scrapped back in it again with three in the eighth. Craig Tatum popped a two-run homerun to highlight the scoring for a 15-13 score.

The Smokies and Lookouts both scored three run each in the ninth for an 18-16 Smokies win.

Tennessee and Chattanooga will match up again tomorrow night. Esmailin Caridad (4-2) gets the start for the Smokies and Ben Jukich for the Lookouts. The Smokies will return home to face the Birmingham Barons in a five game series from August 12th through 16th.

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.

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – In a back and forth battle at Smokies Park Monday night, the Tennessee Smokies dropped a tough decision to the Carolina Mudcats by the score of 6-5 in ten innings. With the loss, the Smokies dropped to four games behind the Mudcats in the 2nd half division title race in front of 3,487 fans.

Tennessee jumped out to an early lead tonight; the first time in the series the Smokies took the first lead of the game. Nate Spears continued his torrid hitting lately with a three run bomb over the right field wall to give Tennessee a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. The home run was Spears’ sixth of the season and third of this current series.

Carolina was able to claw their way back into the game by scoring four runs over the next three innings of the contest. Gaby Sanchez continued to be the Smokies killer this series after launching a two-run homer in the fourth off of Smokies starting pitcher Donnie Veal. After plating a run in the fifth, Carolina took the lead thanks to Sanchez’s second home run of the game, a solo shot to left field off Veal.

The Smokies would tie the game up at 4-4 in the sixth thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly from Kyle Reynolds to score Jake Fox. Carolina would regain the lead in the eighth inning when Lee Mitchell, who doubled to lead off the inning, would come home to score on a passed ball by Smokies catcher Welington Castillo. With the score 5-4 Mudcats, the Smokies would tie the game up in the bottom of the ninth as Spears came up big again with a little help from Carolina. With Matt Matulia on second and Blake Lalli on first, Spears hit a high chopping grounder towards first for a hit, with Matulia scoring on the play thanks to a throwing error by Sanchez on the play.

But the Smokies would give the game away in the top of the tenth, as Cameron Maybin would trot home on a wild pitch by Smokies reliever Dumas Garcia (2-1) with two outs. The Smokies would be unable to mount a rally in their half of the tenth, suffering their third loss in a row to the Mudcats.

Spears would go two for three on the night with three RBI and scoring one run. Fox also continued his hot hitting with a multiple hit night of his own. Chris Mobley (4-2) would earn the win in relief for the Mudcats, with Jacob Marceaux earning his first save of the season.

The Smokies will finish up their five-game series against the Mudcats on Tuesday night with game time set for 7:15 pm at Smokies Park. Tennessee will look to right-hander Mark Holliman (1-4, 4.77) to face off against Carolina left-hander Aaron Thompson (0-3, 6.22). The Smokies will then 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.

SEVIERVILLE – The Tennessee Smokies fell behind by thirteen runs at one point, but their nearly miraculous comeback fell a little bit short as they dropped a wild 15-11 contest to the visiting Carolina Mudcats. The crowd of 4,475 fans was treated to a total of eight home runs during the game as the Smokies fell to three games behind the first place Mudcats.

Carolina jumped out to a huge lead early on in the game, scoring runs in the first five innings off of the Smokies pitching staff. Starting pitcher James Russell (4-8) surrendered eight runs and nine hits over the first two innings of the game, including back-to-back homers by the Mudcats Gaby Sanchez and Andy Jenkins. Matt Avery came on in relief of Russell but did not fare much better, giving up an additional six runs over two and two thirds innings. Jake Fox got the scoring started for the Smokies with a solo shot over the left field wall, his sixteenth of the season, but after five innings the Smokies were in a 14-1 hole.

Tennessee began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth, as the Smokies plated five runs to get back in the game. After plating one run on a bases loaded walk, Tyler Colvin crushed his 10th home run of the season, a grand slam off Mudcats reliever Carlos Martinez. The Smokies continued along the comeback trail with four more runs in the bottom of the seventh to electrify the crowd. Nate Spears smashed a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, to pull the Smokies to within six runs of the Mudcats. Colvin then proceeded to smack his second home run of the game, a two-run shot over the right field wall, and the Smokies had clawed their way back to within four runs at 14-10.

Carolina would plate an insurance run in the top of the eighth, as Smokies reliever Jose Ceda threw a wild pitch to score a run from third base. Tennessee would attempt to come back one more time in the bottom of the ninth, as Colvin continued his torrid hitting today with a triple over centerfielder Cameron Maybin's head. But the Mudcats would shut the door on the Smokies after allowing just one run in the ninth and notch the win.

Both teams would combine for twenty-five hits and eight home runs in an offensive explosion. Colvin would end the day with three hits and six RBI to power the Smokies offense, with Spears and Fox both driving in two runs. Gaby Sanchez would also collect six RBI of his own in helping starting pitcher Tim Corcoran (4-1) earn the win.

The Smokies will look to even the score against the Mudcats on Monday night with game time set for 7:15 pm at Smokies Park. Tennessee will send left-hander Donnie Veal (4-7, 4.12) to the mound to face off against Carolina right-hander Brett Sinkbeil (5-8, 4.71). The five-game series will continue through Tuesday August 5th.

SEVIERVILLE – The Tennessee Smokies got a dramatic ninth inning win last night to start off a key series against the Carolina Mudcats. The visiting team exacted their revenge on the Smokies tonight, dealing the home team a 7-0 loss in front of 5,532 fans. The loss dropped the Smokies to two games behind the North Division leading Mudcats.

Not very much went the Smokies way tonight from the first inning on, as Carolina jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back. First baseman Gaby Sanchez smacked a two run double off of Smokies starting pitcher Grant Johnson (2-3), one of three Mudcats hits in the inning. Dante Brinkley, who came into the series with zero home runs for the Mudcats, cranked out his second and third home runs of the year tonight to help pace the Mudcats offense.

The Smokies did not get their first hit of the game off of Willie Glen (7-3) until the third inning when Sam Fuld lined a double to the left field wall. Glen was solid on the night, going six complete innings allowing just the one hit and striking out six other Smokies batters. Tennessee would only manage one more hit in the game, a Jake Fox single in the bottom of the seventh, as the Mudcats bullpen came on to continue to frustrate the Smokies at the plate.

Sanchez would end up driving in three runs on the night for the Mudcats, with Brinkley accounting for two RBI of his own.

The Smokies will look to even the score against the Mudcats on Sunday night with game time set for 5:00 pm at Smokies Park. Tennessee will look to left-hander James Russell (4-7, 5.63) to face off against Carolina right-hander Tim Corcoran (3-1, 5.04). The five-game series will continue through Tuesday August 5th.

SEVIERVILLE – In the first game of a key playoff series with the Carolina Mudcats, the Tennessee Smokies notched a big victory off a Nate Spears RBI single in the ninth inning to win 5-4 in front of 4,978 excited fans. The win moved Tennessee to within one game of the North Division leading Mudcats.

With the game tied at 4-4, Doug Deeds led off the inning with a walk, and moved to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Josh Lansford. Matt Matulia walked in next at bat off Mudcats reliever Jesus Delgado (5-2), followed by a Sam Fuld single to load the bases. Spears then ripped a single to center field to score Deeds and win the game for the Smokies.

The game was a story of home runs prior to the ninth inning, with both teams combining for five homers on the night. In the bottom of the third inning, the Smokies got the home run parade started as Fuld launched his fourth of the season over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead. Spears then followed suit in the next at bat with his fourth homer of the year to stake Tennessee to a 2-0 lead. The back-to-back home runs were the first for Tennessee at Smokies Park this season.

Not to be outdone, the Mudcats countered with back-to-back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth to claim a 3-2 lead. With two outs, the Mudcats got home runs from Grant Psomas, Brad Davis, and then Chris DeLaCruz, his first of the season.

Tennessee fought back for two more runs to regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Spears, who was three for five from the plate on the night, smacked a double to right center field to score both Fuld and Kyle Reynolds as Tennessee claimed a 4-3 lead. Carolina tied the game up in the top of the seventh, as John Raynor was able to score from third on a passed ball charged to catcher Welington Castillo.

The game remained tied into the ninth and set the stage for Spears' heroics. He drove in four of the Smokies five runs, while Fuld went three for five driving in a run and scoring twice. Rocky Roquet (4-2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his fourth win of the year.

The Smokies will look to take two in a row from the Mudcats on Saturday night with game time set for 7:15 pm at Smokies Park. Tennessee will look to right-hander Grant Johnson (2-2, 6.46) to face off against Carolina right-hander Willie Glen (6-3, 2.23). The five-game series will continue through Tuesday August 5th.

MOBILE, AL- The Tennessee Smokies (49-61, 22-18) used a four run seventh and strong pitching to blank the Mobile Baybears (47-62, 18-21) 5-0, at Hank Aaron Stadium Thursday night in front of 3,522. The victory keeps Tennessee two games behind Carolina for first place in the Southern League North. 

Tennessee broke a scoreless tie with a four run seventh. Jake Fox was hit by a pitch with one out to get things started. Tyler Colvin then smacked a double which scored Fox from first. Welington Castillo singled home Colvin. Matt Matulia singled and Josh Lansford doubled both runner across home to cap off the four run inning. 

Colvin belted a solo homerun to start the top of the ninth for a 5-0 Smokies lead. 

Mark Holliman went 5 innings scoreless innings in the start with no decision. He allowed three hits and walked five but had four strikeouts. 

Matt Avery (4-1) was stellar again in long relief. He recorded the victory going 3 innings allowing just one hit with a strikeout. 

Dumas Garcia complete the shutout as he kept Mobile off the board in the ninth. 

MOBILE, AL - The Tennessee Smokies (48-61, 21-18) scored seven unanswered runs and stunned the Mobile Baybears (47-60, 18-19) 7-3, at Hank Aaron Stadium Wednesday night in front of 2,171. The victory keeps Tennessee two games behind Carolina for first place in the Southern League North. 

The Baybears scored two in the first inning for the second straight game. It seemed like Déjà vu in a repeat of yesterday's game as Javier Brito singled home a pair in the first on a baseball loaded single. 

Mobile then took advantage of a Donnie Veal wild pitch to plate a third run in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. 

The Tennessee offence got going in the sixth inning. After one was retired Sam Fuld singled and scored on a Nate Spears triple. Jake Fox the pounded a double with two retired that scored Spears to make it a 3-2 game. 

The Smokies would go thundering ahead to stay in a five-run eighth. Tennessee sent ten to the plate in a six hit attack. Blake Lalli tied the game at three with an RBI double. Kyle Reynolds then smashed a two-bagger sending the Smokies in front 4-3. Welington Castillo followed with a pitch hit single for a two run Smokies advantage. Nate Spears capped of the scoring with an infield single bringing home one. On the same play an error allowed a second runner to skip home for a 7-3 game. 

Greg Reinhard (2-2) pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief for the games win. He issued three walks and allowed one hit but no runs on the night. 

Casey Lambert was superb in the eighth and ninth innings. He retired all six batters to hit with one strikeout. 

Tennessee and Mobile will play the final game of the series Thursday Night from Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Smokies will start Mark Holliman (1-3) opposite Cesar Valdez (1-2) of the Baybears. The Smokies will return home to face the Carolina Mudcats in a key five game series from August 1st through 5th.

MOBILE, AL - The Tennessee Smokies (47-61, 20-18) got blasted by the Mobile Baybears (46-59, 17-18) who swatted four homeruns, 9-5 at Hank Aaron Stadium Monday night in front of 2,984. The loss drops Tennessee stay two games behind Carolina for first place in the Southern League North. Mobile jumped out on Tennessee scoring five runs in the first three innings. Javier Brito highlighted the Baybears early charge knocking home two runs in the first on the bases loaded single and two more in the third on a long homerun to left. Cyle Hankerd smashed a two run shot off Smokies starting pitcher James Russell in the fifth. Russell completed 5 innings in the start allowing six earned runs on eleven hits. He walked one batter and struck out seven. Mobile added another score in the sixth inning when Bryan Byrne crushed a solo homerun for an 8-0 game. The Smokies broke up Tony Barnette's no hit bid in the Tennessee seventh. Matt Matulia singled to center with one retired and would eventually score on a Jake Fox sacrifice fly. Barnette (7-7) ended up getting the win in the start after retiring the games first 10 batters and no hitting the Smokies through 6.1/3 innings. He pitched a total of 7 1/3 on the night and yielded just five hits and three runs with three strikeouts. Tennessee added two runs in the eighth on a Josh Lansford double and a Sam Fuld groundout. Tyler Colvin busted a two run homerun in the ninth for a 9-5 game. Tennessee and Mobile will play game four of the series Wednesday Night from Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Smokies will start Donnie Veal (4-7) opposite Hector Ambriz (5-12) of the Baybears. The Smokies will return home to face the Carolina Mudcats in a key five game series from August 1st through 5th.

MOBILE, AL - The Tennessee Smokies (47-59, 20-17) got a gem of a start from Grant Johnson and used it to beat the Mobile Baybears (46-59, 17-18) 7-1, at Hank Aaron Stadium Monday night in front of 1,802. The win helps Tennessee stay one game behind Carolina for first place in the Southern League North. 

The Smokies scored twice in the top of the first for an early lead. Doug Deeds doubled high off the rightfield wall and scored on a line drive double from Jake Fox. Tyler Colvin then followed with a two-out hit of his own and the single scored Fox. 

Tennessee then plated two more in the fourth frame. After one was retired Kyle Reynolds drew a walk and moved to third on a Matt Camp single. Pitcher Grant Johnson then faked a bunt to draw in the corner infielders and then quickly took a full swing. Johnson bounced the ball into right field scoring Reynolds. Nate Spears used a bunt single with two outs to score Camp for a 4-0 lead. 

Kyle Reynolds smashed a solo homerun in the sixth inning which gave Tennessee a 5-1 lead. 

Mobile also scored a run in the sixth. Bryan Byrne singled home Guillermo Reyes with Gerardo Parra gunned down behind him on a throw from Fuld in centerfield. 

Jake Fox slammed a solo homerun in the seventh to make it 6-1. 

The Smokies then added another score in the ninth on a Colvin double making it a six run lead. 

Tennessee and Mobile will play game three of the series Tuesday Night from Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Smokies will start James Russell (4-6) opposite Tony Barnette (6-7) of the Baybears. The Smokies will return home to face the Carolina Mudcats in a key five game series from August 1st through 5th.

SEVIERVILLE – The Tennessee Smokies came back from a four run deficit to tie the game, but a ninth inning home run by Rhyne Hughes of the Montgomery Biscuits sent the Smokies to their second straight loss by the score of 9-8. With 5,360 excited fans looking on, Tennessee dropped to 19-15 for the second half of the season. The Smokies were looking good after the first two innings of play, staking starting pitcher Donnie Veal to a 4-0 lead. A two-out rally by the Smokies in the second inning got the offense going as Matt Camp cracked a two RBI double to right center field. Sam Fuld then followed suit with a triple to clear the bases, and Tennessee had jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Veal struggled mightily through the third inning, where the Biscuits did the most damage in plating eight runs. After getting through the first two innings unscathed, Veal lost his control in allowing seven runs on five hits to give Montgomery the lead back. Greg Reinhard came on in relief with two outs, and proceeded to surrender a two-run home run off the bat of Rashad Eldridge. When it was all said and done, the Biscuits had an 8-4 lead. Reinhard settled in after the fateful third inning to give the Smokies a chance to rally back. Down by three runs in the sixth, Tennessee got things going again as Blake Lalli doubled down the right field line. Lalli scored on the next at bat as Matt Matulia cracked an RBI single to right field to cut the lead to two. With the bases loaded and two out, Nate Spears came up with a huge single to center field to score two runs, and the Smokies had tied the game at 8-8. The score would remain tied through the ninth inning, as both bullpens were able to shut down the offense for a couple of innings. Jose Ceda (1-1) entered the game in the eighth and had two out in the top of the ninth as the Smokies offense was gearing up to take the field. Hughes smashed Ceda's normally overpowering fastball to straight away center field, a 420-foot shot, to give the Biscuits a 9-8 advantage. The Smokies were unable to mount any threat in the bottom of the ninth, giving Biscuits reliever Steve Andrade (4-2) the win and Colter Bean his eighth save of the season. Jake Fox smacked his thirteenth home run of the season, his third home run in the past four games in this series. Camp and Lalli contributed with two hits apiece tonight, with Fuld and Spears collecting two RBI on the night. The five game series will come to a close on Saturday night at Smokies Park with game time set at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send right-hander Mark Holliman (1-3, 4.91) to the mound tomorrow night to face off against Montgomery left-hander Jason Cromer (2-2, 3.89). The Smokies will then take to the road for a five game series against the Mobile BayBears.

SEVIERVILLE -  Blake Lalli launched a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning, but it was not enough for the Tennessee Smokies to overcome a five run deficit as they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Montgomery Biscuits. The Smokies dropped to 19-14 for the second half of the season in front of 3,660 fans. Tennessee dug themselves an early hole as Montgomery battered starting pitcher James Russell (4-6) in the first two innings. Russell allowed four runs off three hits in the first inning alone, with the biggest damage coming from a Gaby Martinez two-RBI single. A couple of key fielding errors by the Smokies opened the door for another run to score in the second inning, as Montgomery jumped out to an early 5-0 lead. The Smokies fought back in the bottom half of the fourth inning to get back in the game. Doug Deeds cracked a double down the right field line to begin the frame off Biscuits starter Jeremy Hellickson (1-3). Jake Fox was then hit by a pitch, and moved to second on an infield bunt single by Tyler Colvin, who hustled to beat out the throw. With one out, Lalli smashed a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence and out of the stadium for a grand slam. Lalli's third home run since joining the Smokies pulled Tennessee to within 5-4. The game turned into a pitchers duel after the fourth inning, with both bullpens contributing with sterling performances. Rocky Roquet came on in the sixth to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four Biscuit batters. Casey Lambert then came on in relief of Roquet for 1 1/3 scoreless innings of his own, fanning three batters. But the Biscuits bullpen was equally up to the task, shutting out the Smokies for the final five innings of the game. The Smokies did have several significant scoring opportunities, as they stranded eleven runners on base for the night. In the bottom of the ninth with two out and runners on second and third, Welington Castillo flied out to right field to end the threat and the game for the Smokies. Lalli went three for four on the night driving in all four Smokies runs on the night, with Deeds and Sam Fuld each collecting two hits apiece. Tennessee will try to exact some revenge on Montgomery on Friday night at Smokies Park with game time set at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send left-hander Donnie Veal (4-7, 3.63) to the mound tomorrow night to face off against Montgomery left-hander Mike Prochaska (2-3, 4.93). The five-game series will continue through Saturday July 26th, with all game times set for 7:15 pm.

SEVIERVILLE – Tyler Colvin drilled a two-out single in the bottom of the tenth inning to score Doug Deeds and propel the Tennessee Smokies to a 4-3 win in front of 3,884 excited fans. With the win, the Smokies improved to 19-13 for the second half of the season and kept their one game lead for first place in the North Division. With two outs in the bottom of the tenth, Deeds drew a walk followed by a broken bat line drive single by Jake Fox over the head of the leaping Biscuits shortstop Ronnie Merrell. With the crowd on their feet, Colvin ripped an 0-2 pitch to right field to bring Deeds around third for the scoring attempt. The throw from Montgomery right fielder Elrod Andrus was on line but misplayed by catcher Matt Spring, which allowed Deeds to score the winning run. The game was tight the whole way, with Montgomery taking the early advantage off of a Gaby Martinez towering home run in the top of the second inning. The Biscuits plated another run in the second to take a 2-0 advantage at the expense of Smokies starting pitcher Grant Johnson. Tennessee fought back with a two-run fourth inning, as Jake Fox continued his hot hitting this series with a two-run homer, his second in as many nights, to tie the game at 2-2. Fox's twelfth home run of the season came off of Biscuits starter David Price, the former #1 pick in the amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. Montgomery took the lead back in the next inning by plating a run as J.T. Hall smashed his fourth home run of the season to take a 3-2 lead. Tennessee struck back in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game again as Nate Spears scored off of another Colvin single and an error by Biscuits third baseman Chris Nowak. Matt Avery (3-1) came on in relief to pitch three scoreless innings and earn his third win of the season. Neal Frontz (0-1) served up the game winning single to Colvin to suffer his first loss at the Double-A level. Tennessee will look to take the series lead on Thursday night at Smokies Park with game time set at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send left-hander James Russell (4-5, 5.18) to the mound tomorrow night to face off against Montgomery right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (0-3, 4.88). The five-game series will continue through Saturday July 26th, with all game times set for 7:15 pm.

SEVIERVILLE – The Tennessee Smokies received a very rude homecoming from the Montgomery Biscuits in being dealt a 9-6 loss in front of 3,425 fans at Smokies Park on Tuesday night.  Despite out-hitting the Biscuits fifteen to thirteen, the Smokies dropped to 18-14 for the second half of the season, but remained in first place in the North Division. After the Biscuits jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Smokies fought back with three runs of their own to take the lead back.  Jake Fox smacked his 11^th home run of the season, a towering shot to left field, to tie the game at 2-2.  Doug Deeds, who was four for five from the plate tonight, and then singled in the next at bat.  Welington Castillo delivered with at double down the left field line to score Deeds and give the Smokies a 3-2 lead.                         Esmailin Caridad (4-2) got the start for the Smokies and held the lead through the second inning, but ran into all kinds of trouble in the third and fourth.  Caridad did not get much help in the field, as two costly Smokies errors allowed two runs to score and gave the Biscuits the lead back at 5-3.  In the fourth, Caridad gave up a two-run home run off the bat of Rashad Eldridge, his first of the season, to stake Montgomery to a 7-3 advantage.                   Biscuits starting pitcher Jino Gonzalez (2-3) settled down after a rough first inning to earn the win despite giving up ten Smokies hits.  Tennessee was not able to get the timely hit that they needed to get a rally going tonight, as they stranded thirteen base runners on the evening.  The Smokies were able to mount a small rally in the bottom of the ninth down 9-4 by plating a couple of runs.  But Sam Fuld popped out to end the game representing the tying run to give the Biscuits the early series advantage. Fox drove in two runs and scored three times on the night, Castillo went three for five on the night, with Fuld and Nate Spears each collecting two hits apiece.  The Smokies will look to even the score against the Biscuits on Wednesday night at Smokies Park with game time set at 7:15 pm.  Tennessee will look to right-hander Grant Johnson (1-2, 8.24) tomorrow night as Montgomery will send left-hander David Price (4-0, 2.03) to the mound.  The five-game series will continue through Saturday July 26^th, with all game times set for 7:15 pm.