Tennessee Smokies Wrap: Game 1 of Southern League Championship

by Josh Timmers on Sep 14, 2010 9:41 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

The Tennessee Smokies took a one game to none lead in the Southern League Championship Series with a 5-0 shutout of the Jacksonville Suns.

Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year Chris Archer bounced back from a bad start in the first round of the playoffs with a gem tonight. Archer pitched six shutout innings and allowed only four hits. He walked one and struck out eight. He got double plays in the first two innings and he got out of the third inning when opposing pitcher Elih Villaneuva was thrown out trying to score from first on a double.

But after the play at the plate, Smokies pitchers retired the final 18 batters to end the game. Archer left after six and relievers Aaron Shafer, Blake Parker and Esmailin Caridad each threw a perfect inning. Shafer and Caridad both struck out two.

The Smokies offense had trouble getting going themselves, as the Villaneuva retired the first nine batters he faced. But center fielder Tony Campana singled to lead off the fourth to break the string. After a wild pickoff throw sent him to third base, right fielder Brett Jackson just missed a home run to center. The ball did bounce over the wall for a ground-rule double and the first run of the game. Both Campana and Jackson were 1 for 3. Campana also had a sacrifice bunt and Jackson walked once.

Two batters and a Blake Lalli walk later, catcher Robinson Chirinos hit a three-run home run to make it a four-run inning for the Smokies. Chirinos went 2 for 4 in this first game back from being hit on the hand with a pitch in the West Tennessee series.

Left fielder Brandon Guyer closed out the scoring in this game with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Guyer was 1 for 4.

A bit of background on this series. The series is best-of-five. The Smokies are looking for revenge as they lost the Southern League Championship to the Suns last season, three games to one.

The Smokies will take the field tomorrow at 6:15. You can listen to the game on the Smokies Radio Network.

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Two more wins!

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon

by Cubbiegoon on Sep 14, 2010 9:49 PM CDT reply actions

When is the last time a Cub minor league team won a championship?

I should know , but I don’t.

"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Sep 15, 2010 12:46 AM CDT reply actions

pretty sure 2008

Daytona Cubs. I’d have to go back and dig up the rosters, but at least 5 guys on that squad are on the 2010 Smokies – Clevenger, Blake Parker, Tony Thomas, Russ Canzler, Blake Lalli.

by toonsterwu on Sep 15, 2010 12:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes

Add Jeremy Papelbon and Esmailin Caridad (who’s technically in TN on rehab) to that list. Marco Carrillo was on the D-Cubs earlier in the season, but was in AA at the end of the year.

by Josh Timmers on Sep 15, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

At the AA Level

In 2000, the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx won the Southern League championship as a Cubs farm club. The Cubs have had their AA affiliate in the Southern League since 1989. Over time, that AA affiliate has been in Charlotte, Orlando, Jackson, TN, and Kodak, TN.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 15, 2010 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

The Smokies

last won a Southern League Championship in 2004 when they were a Cardinals affiliate. However, that was a shared title with Mobile when the Championship series was cancelled because of Hurricane Ivan. (The Mobile players needed to evacuate.)

The last time the Tennessee Smokies won the Southern League Championship Series was in 1978 when they were called the Knoxville Sox and were a White Sox affiliate.

The manager for the Knoxville Sox? Tony LaRussa. (Although LaRussa did get promoted to AAA at mid-season, so Joe Johns was actually managing the team when the won the championship.)

by Josh Timmers on Sep 15, 2010 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Jacksonville Suns

That’s the current SL franchise that has stayed in the same city the longest. The Suns have been there since 1970. They were called the Expos from 1985-1990 and had Randy Johnson for a time. The current Barons and Lookouts franchises are not the same ones that date back to 1885. Sure, the names go back that far, but the current Birmingham and Chattanooga teams are not the same franchises that date back to the days of the Southern Association.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 15, 2010 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

The Smokies

were founded as the Knoxville Sox in 1972.

by Josh Timmers on Sep 15, 2010 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Awesome.

They flashed the score of this game at least once during last night’s Cubs-Cards name and I got genuinely excited. Really happy to see the Smokies closed this out in very strong fashion.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Sep 15, 2010 9:08 AM CDT reply actions