Friday, August 12, 2005

L 2-0

Sevierville, TN --- Tennessee's Dustin Nippert outdueled Carolina's Ray Aguilar with Miguel Montero singling home the game's only two runs in the last of the eighth as Tennessee blanked the Mudcats 2-0 on Friday night at Smokies Park.

Nippert (W, 7-3) threw a complete game two-hitter, while Aguilar tossed a complete-game eight-inning performance in the defeat.  Nippert fanned five during his 100-pitch outing, inducing Jeremy Hermida to foul out to a diving third baseman Matt Morgan to end the game representing the tying run.

Tennessee (21-26, 54-63) scored the game's only runs in the eighth after filling the bases against Aguilar.  Noochie Varner singled on the inning's first pitch, then was bunted to second by Adam Haley.  After a foulout, Aguilar intentionally walked Chris Carter, followed by an unintentional walk to fill the bases.  Montero, a lefty, dropped a two-run single into centerfield for a 2-0 lead.

Nippert retired 16 consecutive hitters during one stretch, and held the Mudcats (29-16, 70-43) hitless over the final seven innings.

Aguilar worked eight innings, permitting seven hits, striking out four and walking four.

Josh Johnson (9-4, 4.43) starts the series' third game on Saturday night against Tony Pena (7-9, 4.43) at 7:15 PM ET.

CAROLINA            0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0   ---   0   2   1   3

TENNESSEE        0 0 0   0 0 0   0 2 x   ---   2   7   1   6

WP - Nippert (7-3)

LP - Aguilar (4-1)

S - None.

HR - None.

Time:  2:10

Att:  4,871