Wednesday, July 6, 2005

L 7-2

Zebulon, NC --- Stephen Smitherman homered twice to lead Chattanooga to a 7-2 victory over Carolina at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night.

Smitherman's blasts each occurred against Mudcats starter Luke Lockwood (L, 2-5), and each followed infield singles by Ryan Hanigan.  Lockwood allowed four runs over five innings to absorb his second loss in three days.  Lockwood was tagged for a loss in relief on Monday night against the Lookouts (7-8, 34-50). 

Carolina (48-33, 7-6) began the night in a first-place tie in the North, and right fielder Jeremy Hermida was a late scratch with a minor hamstring tweak, but was in the on-deck circle as a potential pinch-hitter in the sixth inning, but did not bat.

JC Muniz, who started in right for Hermida, singled in a third inning run to trim the deficit to 2-1.  Reggie Abercrombie (HR, 1) homered and made to sparkling running catches in his Carolina debut.  Abercrombie was promoted to the Mudcats when Eric Reed was sent to Triple-A following Tuesday night's game.

James Shanks had three of the Mudcats' eight hits, including two doubles.

The Mudcats conclude their series with the Lookouts Thursday night with Yorman Bazardo (5-6, 3.90) starting against Josh Hall (3-2, 2.16) at Five County at 7:15 PM ET.

CHATTANOOGA            0 2 0   2 0 0   1 2 0   ---   7   10   1   6

CAROLINA                    0 0 1   1 0 0   0 0 0   ---   2    8    2   8

WP - Van Hekken (2-0)

LP - Lockwood (2-5)

S - Salmon (1)

HR - Smitherman 2 (3, 4), Abercrombie (1).

Time:  2:49

Att:  2,197

Notes:  Abercrombie's homer in the fourth inning was his 16th combined this season, a career high.  Abercrombie hit 15 with Jupiter, and is on the Marlins 40-man roster... LHP Luke Lockwood is winless as a starter, 0-4, and has not earned a win since May 15th... Carolina is 14-5 against the Lookouts this season with another 18 games remaining, including 11 at BellSouth Park.  Carolina is 8-0 thus far in Chattanooga... SS Robert Andino batted leadoff in the order with the departure of Reed, the second time this season Andino has batted leadoff.  Andino went 0-5 with two strikeouts.