Tennessee Smokies Wrap: Game 2 of the Southern League Championship

The Tennessee Smokies lost Game 2 of the Southern League Championship, 7-6 to the Jacksonville Suns. The best-of-five series now stands tied at one game apiece.

Chris Carpenter started game two for the Smokies and got into trouble in the third inning. Carpenter gave up four runs, turning a 2-0 lead into a 4-2 deficit.  All four runs were earned, but Carpenter got little help from his defense, as Brett Jackson overran a single for an error and shortstop Marwin Gonzalez threw home in a failed attempt to get a runner going home instead of getting a sure out at first.  After giving up a fifth run in the fourth inning, Carpenter exited the game. Carpenter's final line for the game was 3.2 innings pitched and he allowed five runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four.

The Smokies fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-run single by Tony Campana. But Esmailin Caridad got the loss when he allowed an unearned run in the top of the ninth. Caridad allowed a leadoff single to Suns second baseman Ryan Curry, who stole second and advanced to third when catcher Steve Clevenger threw the ball into center field.  The next batter hit a sacrifice fly that would be the winning margin.

Left fielder Brandon Guyer hit his second home run in two games when he hit a solo home run in the third inning. Guyer was 1 for 5.

Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a double and that two RBI single that tied the game in the eighth inning.

Third baseman Russ Canzler went 3 for 4 with a double. Canzler scored twice and had one RBI. Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a double. Thomas scored two runs.

The Smokies and Suns will take tomorrow off as they take the long bus ride to Jacksonville. They'll play Game 3 of Friday at 6:05 Central. As always, you can get a game preview and listen to the game on the Smokies Radio Network.