smokies pounded by diamond jaxx in 10-2 loss

The Tennessee Smokies pitching staff, depleted and shorthanded, yielded ten runs to the visiting West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx in a 10-2 loss at Smokies Park in front of 5,502 fans.

The Diamond Jaxx exploded for thirteen hits in the game to send the Smokies to a 16-9 record for the second half of the season at the league’s All-Star break. Donnie Veal (4-6) started the game on the mound for the Smokies, and struggled from the early going. After getting through the first inning unscathed, Veal gave up three runs in the second and two more runs in the third as West Tennessee took a 5-0 lead.

Jeffrey Dominguez’s bases clearing three-run double in the second came as it looked as if Veal was going to escape the threat, and the Diamond Jaxx never looked back. After Denny Stark started the game for West Tennessee, Ryan Ketchner (7-5) came on to shut down the Smokies offense. Ketchner went five innings of scoreless work, striking out six Smokies batters and walking only one.

Mark Holliman came on in relief for Veal in the fourth inning, and fared no better against a potent West Tennessee offense. Holliman gave up five more runs in the top of the fifth, which started when Johan Limonta smashed his sixth home run of the season. He finished the inning out, but Wes Tennessee had increased their lead to 10-0.

 The Smokies were able to avoid the shutout by scoring two runs in the eighth to give the crowd a small ray of hope of a comeback. After Tyler Colvin walked with one out, Jake Fox doubled him home with a line drive to the gap in left center field. Fox scored on the next play, as Doug Deeds reached first base on a fielding error by Dominguez.

Two runs were all the Smokies offense could generate tonight, however, sending them to their second loss in a row.

The Smokies will enjoy a few days off for the Southern League All-Star Game to be held in Zebulon, NC on Monday July 14th. Tennessee will then take to the road on Wednesday July 16th for a key five-game series against the Huntsville Stars as the Smokies battle for the 2nd half title. The Smokies will return home on Tuesday July 22nd for a five-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits.