May 15, 2004

Sevierville, TN - Chris Duncan homered and drove in four to pace the Tennessee offense into double-figures for the second straight game against Carolina, for a 10-6 win at Smokies Park on Saturday night.

Duncan hit one of three homers against starter Trevor Hutchinson (L, 5-2, 3IP, 6H, 7R, 7ER, 4W, 3K). Papo Bolivar homered on Hutchinson's fourth pitch.

Duncan solidified the four-run first inning with his bomb after a pair of two-out walks. Gabe Johnson took Hutchinson deep with two aboard in the third, capping a career-high three-homer night against the Mudcats ace.

Carolina (20-16), which was beaten 10-0 in the series opener by the Smokies (19-17), remained one game behind first-place Jacksonville in the East. The Smokies and Chattanooga Lookouts remain tied in third, but only two games behind.

Billy Hall (HR, 2, 1-4, RBI) homered for the second time during this 3-3 road trip, swatting a solo homer in the third against Josh Axelson (W, 2-4), but the Smokies scored three in the third and scratched reliever Todd Moser (ND, 3IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 1W, 1K) for three runs in the fourth for a 10-2 lead.

Josh Wilingham (HR, 7, 2-4, 2RBI) laced a two-run homer in the eighth to draw Carolina to within 10-5. The Mudcats pushed across a ninth inning run against closer Evan Rust on a sacrifice fly by Chip Ambres (1-3, R, RBI, SF, W).

Carolina has lost three straight after a seven-game winning streak. The Mudcats send RH Nic Ungs (2-1, 2.58) against Tennessee RH Jeremy Cummings (3-1, 2.97) Sunday at 5:15 PM ET.

Carolina 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 --- 6 11 0 7
Tennessee 4 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 * --- 10 14 2 8

WP - Axelson (2-4)
LP - Hutchinson (5-2)
S - None.

HR - Bolivar (3), Duncan (3), Hall (2), Johnson (4), Willingham (7)

Time: 2:54
Att: 4,355

Notes: Jason Stokes, going 1-5 on Saturday night, extended his hitting streak to eight games... Pitching coach Gil Lopez left the club mid-game on Saturday, returning home for a child's graduation ceremony. Lopez will rejoin the Mudcats on Tuesday at Five County Stadium... Following the game, the Mudcats placed OF Jim Kavourias on the disabled list while activating OF/IF Pat Magness.