Tonight in Miami, the Chicago Cubs took on the Florida Marlins and beat them 2-0. In Jacksonville, the Chicago Cubs AA farm team took on the Florida Marlins AA farm team in the Southern League Championship and the Smokies fell to the Jacksonville Suns by the same 2-0 score. The Suns now lead the Southern League Championship Series two games to one.
Smokies starter Trey McNutt made only one bad pitch tonight that cost him, but it was a fourth inning two-run home run to Jeff Corsaletti. It was especially bad as McNutt looked like he was out of trouble in the inning, having just gotten a double-play with men on first and second and nobody out. Overall, McNutt pitched six innings and allowed just the two runs on five hits. McNutt walked three and struck out six.
Luke Sommer and Blake Parker each threw a perfect inning of relief, getting one strikeout.
But the offense never got going for the Smokies tonight. The Smokies only had three hits and never got a runner past second base. After shortstop Marwin Gonzalez led off the third inning with a double, he never advanced beyond second and the Smokies never had another serious scoring threat again.
First baseman Blake Lalli had the other two hits for the Smokies tonight, both singles.
Tomorrow night's game is at 6:35 Central time, and the Smokies will have to win or their season is over. You can listen to the game on-line at the Smokies Radio Network.