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Smokies beginning to see Stars
ZEBULON, N.C. - The Tennessee Smokies completed the 140-game Southern League marathon with a 4-3 loss at Carolina on Labor Day, but the Smokies begin one more lap around the track Thursday in the divisional championship series against Huntsville.
The regular season ended in exciting fashion when Carolina second baseman Chase Lambin threw out Nate Spears trying to score the tying run from first base on a double by Tyler Colvin. Spears had reached on a two-out error, then motored around the bases as Colvin drilled the right field corner wall. But with third base coach Barbaro Garbey ordering Spears home, Lambin holstered right fielder Ryan Bear's throw and gunned out Spears by a step at home plate.
The game featured the top prospect in the Florida Marlins organization against the Chicago Cubs' pre-season No. 5 prospect Jeff Samardzija. Each right-hander permitted a pair of runs in the first inning, but Christopher Volstad notched his fourth win in six decisions, lasting five innings allowing two earned runs over five innings. Meanwhile, Jeff Samardzija yielded eight hits over a four-inning start.
But following the defeat, which ended their regular season at 73-65, the wild-card Smokies' attention turned to the Huntsville Stars and the Northern Divisional Championship Series.
"Huntsville is a really good team," Smokies catcher Casey McGehee said. "They've won both halves. We've struggled playing at their place. But our team has changed since we saw them last. We're going to give it our best shot."
One of the Smokies who hasn't yet seen the Stars is third baseman Kyle Reynolds, whose short-term influence was felt by the Mudcats with Reynolds driving in 12 runs in seven games against them in 2007.
"I haven't seen the Stars, but we're playing well and I'm excited to get a playoff chance at Double-A," Reynolds said.
Reynolds made his Class-AA debut on July 26, hitting .281 with 35 RBI in 35 games with the Smokies.
Because of Huntsville's strength in both its starting staff and bullpen, discipline and production from the lefties will be vital for the Smokies to upset the Stars in the best-of-five series.
"Huntsville has a lot of quality arms with good command," Garbey said. "We have to be more selective. Some of our lefty hitters have struggled against their left-handed pitchers and we need our hitters to make them work."
Entering the postseason, the Stars rotation is comprised of four left-handed pitchers who have combined for 32 victories, paced by 12-6 Lindsay Gulin, who is 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA in two starts against Tennessee. Sam Narron has a 1.61 ERA in four starts against the Smokies. What Tennessee's familiarity will lead to later this week is the big unknown. Colvin (.174) and Sam Fuld (.162), two of the Smokies' key left-handed hitters have struggled against Huntsville's pitching, while Issmael Salas (.333) and Gary Cates (.375) have flourished against the Stars.
Huntsville won five of 10 meetings at Smokies Park, while dominating at Joe Davis Stadium, taking eight of nine. By virtue of the Stars winning both halves in 2007, Huntsville would host four of the five games in the series if fully extended. Tennessee's lone home game will be Game 3, Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
The Smokies' pitching rotation against Huntsville is still a five-piece puzzle.
"Since we (Cubs) lost our pitching coordinator (Alan Dunn) to Baltimore, we're going to have to wait on our farm director for approval," pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn said. "Pat (Listach) and I have our thoughts, but beyond game one, we have to wait."
Dunn was hired by the Orioles as their major league bullpen coach two weeks ago by former West Tenn Diamond Jaxx manager Dave Trembley, now managing Baltimore. Dunn was Trembley's pitching coach with the Jaxx.
Lewallyn indicated that right-hander Kevin Hart is the strong candidate for the opener on Thursday, but big-league call-ups could alter their plans. Hart is 2-0 against the Stars.
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