South Division snaps streak with 6-2 win Tuesday

KODAK, Tenn. - The South Division All-Stars scored three runs in the top of the second inning and rode the momentum to a 6-2 win over the North Division All-Stars in the U.S. Cellular Southern League All-Star Game on Tuesday at Smokies Park. The South snapped a seven-year drought against the North Division in the mid-summer classic.

Mobile BayBears starter Tyler Skaggs picked up the win on the mound with a strike out in an inning of work. Chattanooga Lookouts starter Matt Magill took the loss after giving up the three runs in his 0.1 innings of work.

BayBears outfielder Alfredo Marte was awarded the "Top Star Award" after going 2-for-2 with a double and a RBI.

Jackson Generals outfielder Denny Almonte started the North's game off with a home run off Skaggs to give the North an early 1-0 lead.

The South Division answered quickly in the second, scoring three times off Magill. Marte doubled and three consecutive singles by Montgomery's Kyeong Kang, Mississippi's Todd Cunningham and Jacksonville's Kyle Skipworth tied the game at one with the bases loaded. The South Division would add a two more runs in the inning on a ground ball by Pensacola's Didi Gregorious that scored Kang, and an error on Jackson's shortstop Nick Franklin would give the South a 3-1 advantage.

Marte and Tennessee Smokies' Jim Adduci took top offensive honors both going 2-for-2 with an RBI at the plate. Cunningham and Gregorious both recorded RBIs on the night for the South

North Division skipper, Tennessee's Buddy Bailey, used every player on his roster to give each one a taste of playing in an all-star game. One of the highlights of the night for the North was Generals closer Carter Capps who threw his final pitch in the ninth at 102 MPH.

The South Division used 23 of their 25 players in Tuesday's game; Mississippi's Sean Gilmartin and Pensacola's Daniel Corcino did not play in tonight's game.

Earlier in the night, the Southern League Home Run Derby took place at Smokies Park. Eight all-stars slugged it out for the title of "Southern League Home Run Champion." Jackson's Joe Dunigan took the award, putting eight balls over the fence over two rounds to take home the title. Dunigan beat out Smokies first baseman Justin Bour. The two power hitters had to go to a "hit-off" to decide the winner, after each hit one long ball in the Championship Round.