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 Tennessee Smokies

Samardzija Sharp, Smokies Win 5-2

August 12, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


Sevierville, TN - Jeff Samardzija came to the mound for his second start at Smokies Park tonight, pitching 6 1/3 innings of four hit ball to lead the Smokies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. A crowd of 2,925 looked on as Samardzija (2-0) gave up two home runs, but battled through to allow only two runs to score.

The victory was the third in a row for the Smokies, who took four out of five games from West Tennessee in improving to 27-23 for the second half of the season.

It looked to be the same old song and dance for the Smokies, as West Tennessee scored a run in the first inning for the fourth consecutive game. Diamond Jaxx second baseman Luis Valbuena launched a towering home run off Samardzija to put the Smokies in a 1-0 hole early on.

The Smokies answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first however, with Jorge Cortes scoring on throwing error by Valbuena, one of four Diamond Jaxx errors on the night. After one complete inning, the game was tied at 1-1. The Smokies took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, thanks in part to a one-out double by catcher Chris Robinson, one of his two hits on the night. Robinson later scored on a Robinson Chirinos RBI single, followed by Chirinos scoring on an error to give Tennessee a 3-1 advantage. After the Diamond Jaxx scored to pull within one run on a Marshall Hubbard home run in the fourth, the Smokies plated another run in their half of the fourth to push the lead back to two runs. Issmael Salas led off the fourth with a double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a bunt single by Robinson. Salas later scored on a fielder's choice by Chirinos off of Diamond Jaxx starter Andy Baldwin (3-12), and the Smokies had a 4-2 lead. That would be as close as West Tennessee would get, as Samardzija and the Smokies bullpen took over from there. After leaving the game in the seventh, Samardzija was aided by a great effort from reliever Jim Henderson. After the Smokies scored an insurance run in the eighth to make the score 5-2, Rocky Roquet came on to pitch in the ninth. Roquet proceeded to strike out the side in order to end the game for his sixth save of the season. The Smokies have a day off on Monday, then travel south to face the Chattanooga Lookouts in a key playoff series beginning on Tuesday night. The Smokies' next home game will be on Saturday August 25th after a five game set in Mobile. Game time is set for 7:15 pm against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Tennessee Smokies Baseball - It's A Nine Inning Vacation! Call (865) 286-2300 for tickets or purchase tickets on line at www.smokiesbaseball.com.


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Southern League Stories from August 12, 2007


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