Nothing much has seemed to go right in the Carolina Mudcats’ home series against the Tennessee Smokies at Five County Stadium.
- Photo by Nikolaus © 2010 Carolina Mudcats
- Mudcats manager David Bell
But the first two games on Monday and Tuesday were close. Thursday’s doubleheader, necessitated by a rainout on Wednesday, wasn’t. The Smokies ran their record to 12-2 and dropped the Mudcats six games back in the Southern League’s North Division, rolling to a 7-3 win in the opener and an 8-1 victory in the nightcap.
Robinson Chirinos’ three-run double in the seventh inning was the biggest blow for Tennessee in the opener, in which Alex Maestri picked up the victory after starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx went five shutout innings.
Sean Henry’s three-run double in the sixth scored all of Carolina’s runs in the opener, in which Jordan Smith was the loser in relief.
In the nightcap, Tennessee scored five runs in the sixth to clinch the win for Chen Hung-Wen while Daryl Thompson suffered the loss. Starlin Castro had two hits including a double to lead Tennessee’s balanced seven-hit attack.
Kris Negron’s first-inning homer provided the Mudcats’ run.
Friday’s game
Tennessee at Mudcats, 7:15 p.m.
Craig Muschko (R, 0-0, 3.00) vs. Alexander Smit (L, 0-0, 6.10)
