seventh-inning error dooms smokies’ home-opener

A three-run seventh inning induced by a Tennessee Smokies’ error provided the final margin in Wednesday’s 2008 home-opening loss for the Tennessee Smokies at Smokies Park in front of 2,475 fans.

In losing the first of the four-game series with the Jacksonville Suns, the Smokies fell to 3-3 on the young season under first-year manager Buddy Bailey. Tennessee is slated to continue the series with the Suns, the Southern League Class double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday evening beginning at 7:15.

Following  this week’s home-opening series with Jacksonville, which goes through Sunday, the Smokies will host a series with the Montgomery Biscuits beginning on Monday.

Tennessee starting pitcher Justin Berg (0-2) looked sharp through six innings, allowing only a fourth-inning Lucas May homerun. The seventh inning proved to be the Smokies downfall, as the Suns plated three runs to take a 4-0 lead. After Berg struck out Jamie Hoffman, he walked Juan Gonzalez, prompting the Tennessee coaching staff to bring in relief pitcher Rocky Roquet with a pair of Suns on base.

That’s when things really began to come undone for the home team.

Jacksonville’s James Tomlin doubled in a run with a drive down the right field line and Gonzalez came around to score on an errant throw by Matt Camp, with Tomlin scoring on a throwing error by Roquet to put the Suns on top 4-0.

The Smokies’ bats were mostly silent all night as Tennessee’s only tally came in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kyle Reynolds scored off an RBI single by Chris Robinson. Jacksonville utilized four different pitchers who combined to limit the Smokies to just four hits. Eduardo Sierra (3-0) picked up the win for the visitors.

While Tennessee trails Huntsville (5-1) and Carolina (4-2) in the Southern League’s Northern Division, Jacksonville (4-2) managed to move a half game ahead of Birmingham (4-3) at the top of the Southern Division with Wednesday’s win.