Tennessee Smokies pitcher Jeff Samardzija completed his second strong starting assignment Sunday in a 5-2 Tennessee win over West Tennessee at Smokies Park.

Samardzija has taken the Southern League by storm since joining the Chicago Cubs’ double-A affiliate in the league, the Tennessee Smokies, two weeks ago.

A former college football star at Notre Dame, Samardzija has been impressive now in both of his two Southern League starts with the surging Smokies (27-23), and could prove to be the spark that sends the Southern League Eastern Division runners-up ahead of current division leader and first-half division champion Huntsville (31-19).

The Smokies arch nemesis for the coveted playoff spot(s) that goes to the division second half champ and wild-card winner is the Eastern Division’s current second place team, the Chattanooga Lookouts (28-19).

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