After taking three of five against Huntsville and splitting their first two games in Chattanooga, the Smokies entered the week battling for the North Division lead with three other teams. Bolstered by their league-leading offense, the Smokies reeled off six straight wins to end the week, rising to the top of the standings and taking hold of the league’s best record.
Monday saw the Smokies fall to the Lookouts in a pitcher’s duel.  Starter Chris Rusin tossed a quality start, going six innings and allowing two runs on four hits, and Jae-Hoon Ha recorded two hits and scored the Smokies only run in the 2-1 defeat.
Robert Whitenack stole the show Tuesday, throwing seven scoreless innings as the Smokies won 6-2.  Whitenack became the first Smokies pitcher to throw seven full innings in a game this year, improving his record to a perfect 4-0.
With the series on the line Wednesday, the Smokies took the rubber match against the Lookouts with a late-inning rally to win 5-3.  Trailing by a run in the ninth, Marwin Gonzalez drove in a tied it up with an RBI single and Ha followed with a two-run single to put the Smokies ahead for good.
Revenge was on the mind of the Smokies entering Thursday’s game, as South Division leader Mobile came to town with the distinction of being the only team to win a series against them this year.  Ryan Flaherty continued his tear at the plate, belting his ninth homer of the year and driving in four runs as the Smokies racked up 15 hits and knocked off the BayBears 9-7.
Matt Spencer carried the load on Friday night as the Smokies took the second game of the series, 6-5.  The Morristown Masher went 3-for-3 with five RBI on the night, blasting two home runs and driving in the game-winning run in the seventh.
The offense and pitching staff were both clicking on all cylinders in Saturday’s 11-2 win.  The bullpen combined for seven scoreless innings of work and the offense plated 10 runs in the game’s first four innings, as the Smokies secured a series win over the BayBears.
Flaherty came through again on Sunday, blasting a three-run homer in the sixth to erase a two run deficit and lead the Smokies to a 4-2 win.  Rafael Dolis recorded his third save in four games and the Smokies picked up their sixth straight win.
The Smokies wrap up their 10-game homestand with a series against the Mississippi Braves this week, then hit the road to take on the Huntsville Stars for a five-game set starting next Monday.   For tickets or more information, call (865) 286-2300, or visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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