Mudcats come up just short

Published in Sports on July 24, 2007 1:47 PM

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SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. -- Pinch-hitter Joe Simokaitis hit a game-winning, ninth-inning sacrifice fly as Tennessee edged Carolina 8-7 on Monday evening.

Simokaitis, batting for Chris Robinson, hit the second pitch from new pitcher Chris Mobley to deep centerfield, scoring Casey McGehee from third base as the Smokies snapped a five-game losing streak. Mobley entered the game with the bases loaded and one out and the game tied at 7-7.

Losing pitcher Matt Yourkin (1-1) began the inning by deflecting a grounder by McGehee off of his bare hand, slowing up the roller for second baseman Chase Lambin to attempt a throw at first, but the throw was high and bounced over the railing of the Tennessee dugout, allowing McGehee to take second. After an intentional walk, Tyler Colvin sacrificed the runners to second and third before another intentional walk issued by Yourkin.

After Tennessee (14-17) took a 1-0 lead in the second against starting pitcher Chris Seddon on a home run by Matt Craig, Carolina (15-16) scored five unearned runs against Donnie Veal in the third, highlighted by Lee Mitchell's 19th home run, an opposite-field three-run homer that just eluded Colvin's leaping effort in right field.

The Smokies chipped away at Seddon with another solo homer in the third by McGehee, then knocked Seddon from the game on a five-run, six-hit fourth inning.

Trailing 7-5 in the fifth, the Mudcats built a game-tying rally with two outs against reliever Grant Johnson.