Sevierville, TN --- Jai Miller tied a club record with three home runs and seven RBI to lead the Carolina Mudcats past the Tennessee Smokies 12-5 at Smokies Park on Wednesday night.  

Miller, who drove in a career-high six runs on June 30th at Chattanooga, hit a solo blast in the second inning on Tuesday night before rain suspended the contest.  Miller then hit a two-run homer against Chicago Cubs right-hander Wade Miller, then socked a grand slam in the seventh to become the second Mudcats player ever to hit three home runs in a game, joining George Canale in 1995.  Miller's seven RBI tied Jose Reyes' club record of 1998.  

Miller's offensive outburst overshadowed two other big performances with Brad Davis going 4-5 with two doubles and Ryan Bear's 3-5 night scoring three runs.   

But the night belonged to Miller, who has hit .347 since June 1st and lifted his average from .199 to .273 in that span.  Miller had one more at-bat to attempt to become just the second batter in league history (George Kalafatis, July 1, 1969, Montgomery) to hit four home runs in a game, but struck out with the bases empty in the ninth.  

Jimmy Serrano (W, 4-1) earned the victory in relief of Jesus Delgado, who started the game on Tuesday night.  Serrano pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing one run before leaving the game in the sixth with a left calf injury.   

After Tuesday's game was suspended in the middle of the third tied at 1-1, the game resumed after a 2-hour, 55-minute rain delay on Wednesday, beginning at 8:10 PM instead of 5:15.  Consequently, the second game scheduled was pushed back to Thursday at 5:15 PM with a doubleheader.   

Gaby Hernandez and Blake McGinley will start Thursday night for Carolina, which moved back to the .500 mark at 16-16 in the second half, 3 1/2 games behind first-place Huntsville. 

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