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MLB

Smokies take second in a row over Barons Friday, 5-2

Clevenger scores three times as Tennessee's magic number is down to two
By Rennie Leon
August 27, 2010

KODAK, Tenn. - Faced with another three run lead in Friday night's contest with the Birmingham Barons, the Tennessee Smokies made sure they would not repeat the dramatics of Thursday night's opener. The Smokies' bullpen held the Barons' offense to one hit over the final three innings in a 5-2 win in front of 5,680 at Smokies Park. With the win, Tennessee's (39-22, 81-49) magic number to clinch the Southern League North second half crown is down to two.

Birmingham jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as Tyler Kuhn led off the game with a solo home run off Tennessee starter Rafael Dolis. Dolis struggled early as the next two Barons hitters reached base before an out was recorded. He would settle down though to allow only the one run.

The lead was short-lived for the Barons though as the Smokies put two up in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Steve Clevenger's single plated Russ Canzler to tie the game at one. Clevenger would then score the first of his three runs on Tony Thomas' triple to give the Smokies the lead.

After Tennessee extended its lead to 3-1 in the third on Blake Lalli's RBI single that scored Brandon Guyer, Clevenger crossed home again to put the Smokies up, 4-1, on Marwin Gonzalez' sacrifice fly off Barons starter Johnnie Lowe (6-5).

The Barons got one more on Dolis in the sixth inning, narrowing the lead to 4-2. On the night, Dolis (5-3) would scatter eight hits over six innings of work, allowing two runs and striking out four.

The Smokies didn't waste any time getting the run back. Clevenger reached on a two-base error in the bottom of the sixth and would move to third on a Thomas single, An RBI single this time around by Gonzalez brought Clevenger in and put the Smokies back up by three at 5-2.

Relievers Esmailin Caridad and Blake Parker (S, 4) would combine to throw three scoreless innings over the final three frames, allowing only one hit and striking out three.

The two teams will battle it out again Saturday night at 6:15 at Smokies Park. Justin Edwards (3-9, 6.14) will get the start for Birmingham against Tennessee's Trey McNutt (0-1, 9.64). Tickets for the game, which will include a 2011 Smokies dog calendar giveaway for the first 2,000 fans, can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.