Tennessee Trots Past BayBears in Series Opener

MOBILE, Ala. - With Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg leading his Tennessee Smokies to town for the second time this season, they got off to a good start to their five-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium with an 8-2 pounding of the BayBears on Monday night.

It was the lower part of the Tennessee (46-55, 14-17) lineup that did most of the damage against the BayBears (52-49, 15-16). Wes Roemer (6-6) first got tagged in the second when Blake Lalli smacked a two-out double to left-center which was followed by a two-run jack by Tony Thomas.

In the third, the BayBears took advantage of Tennessee's spotty defense as Chris Rahl reached on a fielding error by Lalli. After Pedro Ciriaco's infield single, Lalli made an errant throw to third which allowed Rahl to score. Ciriaco came home on a double by Bryan Byrne which was lost in the air by left fielder Tyler Colvin.

Tennessee grabbed the advantage for keeps in the fourth when Doug Deeds doubled and scored on a two-out hit by Lalli. Tennessee manufactured a run in the fifth with Mark Reed singling and coming home on a fielder's choice grounder by James Adduci. Deeds put the Smokies up by three with a blast that made it over the center field wall against Roemer in the sixth.

David Patton made the start for the Smokies on injury rehab from Chicago and worked 2.2 innings before giving way to Jeremy Papelbon (3-4) who tossed 4.1 scoreless frames on three singles.

Jordan Norberto coughed up three runs on three hits in the ninth with Reed smacking a two-run double and scoring on a wild pitch.

The Mobile BayBears have sent nearly 100 players to the major leagues. They play game two of their series with the Smokies on Tuesday night at 7:05 with Cody Evans (4-10, 6.30) getting the start. For Hank Aaron Stadium tickets, call (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.