SMOKIES FALL IN EXTRAS TO CAROLINA ON MONDAY 8 – 3
Tennessee falls for the first time this year to Mudcats
After Robinson Chirinos’ RBI-double in the eighth tied the game at three, the score would hold up until the 10th when Carolina put up five runs off the Smokies and reliever Alex Maestri (2-2). Maestri would allow all five runs in the frame on four hits. Carolina’s Ruben Medina (2-0) picked up the win.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Already having swept the Carolina Mudcats in five games earlier this year, the Tennessee Smokies were looking to continue their winning ways against the Southern League North Division’s last place team. The Mudcats (12-19) did not cooperate however, getting to the Smokies bullpen for five runs in the 10th and handing the Smokies (20-11) an 8-3 loss Monday at Smokies Park.
Mike Parisi’s first start for the Smokies this year lasted only 2.2 innings. After serving up a leadoff home run to Carolina’s Kris Negron, the righy would leave the game in the bottom of the third. He allowed the one run on three hits on the night, with one walk.
Relievers David Cales and Dustin Sasser kept Carolina at bay, tossing a combined 4.1 innings of relief for the Smokies. Cales struck out two in his 3.1 innings of work, while Sasser held the Mudcats hitless in his one inning of work.
The duo’s stellar performance allowed the Smokies to grab their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Blake Lalli brought in the first Smokies run on a RBI-single to center. He then scored himself on a Matt Spencer sacrifice fly to give Tennessee a 2-1 lead.
Carolina’s Chris Denove answered in the eighth with a two-run home run off Tennessee reliever Jake Muyco to put the Mudcats back on top, 3-2.
The Smokies answered in the bottom of the eighth. Marwin Gonzalez’s steal of second with two out put him in scoring position for Chirinos’ RBI double, which tied the game at three.