Tennessee Smokies Win 6-0 Victory Over Jacksonville Suns

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Three Tennessee pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout while the Smokies offense used a five-run fifth inning to lead the Tennessee Smokies (11-16) to a 6-0 victory over the Jacksonville Suns (11-16) in front of 9,860 Thursday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
 
 Tennessee starter Donnie Veal (2-0) picked up the win after pitching seven scoreless innings with three scattered hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Jacksonville starter James McDonald (1-1) fell in the loss in five innings of work, going through the order perfectly through the first four frames before allowing five fifth inning runs.
 
 McDonald and Veal battled throughout the first four innings, with McDonald pitching perfectly. Veal allowed a first inning single, two walks in the second inning (the first erased on caught stealing), and a one out single in the fourth inning.
 



 The Smokies finally broke through against McDonald in the fifth inning. After a leadoff walk, Kyle Reynolds double to put runners on second and third base. Steve Clevenger next hit a sacrifice fly to the left fielder to open a 1-0 lead. Following a groundout, McDonald intentionally walked Matt Matulia to place runners on first and third base with two out. Pitcher Donnie Veal then grounded a ball to right field scoring Reynolds for a 2-0 lead. Matt Camp next doubled home two runs to open a 4-0 advantage. Nate Spears then doubled home Camp to open a 5-0 Tennessee lead.
 
 McDonald faced all nine Tennessee batters in the fifth inning, allowing five runs on four hits.
 
 Tennessee scored for the final time in the sixth inning against Suns reliever Danny Muegge when Steve Clevenger recorded a fielder’s choice RBI to open a 6-0 lead.
 
 Veal settled in after the fourth inning, allowing only one hit in his final three innings of work, a double from Shane Justis that landed on the mound during the seventh.
 
 The Suns loaded the bases with two out in the ninth against reliever Jesse Estrada on two walks and single but left the runners stranded with a strikeout.

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