SMOKIES REBOUND TO EARN SPLIT THURSDAY NIGHT
Cashner dominates in Game 2 win over Mobile; Castro extends hit streak to six
Andrew Cashner, the Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect and Game 2 starter for Tennessee, amassed eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work, allowing only two hits. He improved to 3-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to 2.75.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Thursday night’s doubleheader between the Tennessee Smokies and the Mobile BayBears was a tale of two halves. Following an 8-2 defeat to Mobile in Game 1, the Smokies returned the favor with a 5-0 shutout win in Game 2 at Smokies Park. The split puts the Smokies at 19-9 on the year, while Mobile is still at .500 with a 14-14 record.
For good measure, the Smokies offense made sure Cashner’s Game 2 effort would not go to waste. Matt Spencer’s RBI single was part of a two-run first off Mobile starter Pat McAnaney (1-3) that gave the Smokies an early 2-0 lead. Three more runs in the second, two coming off a Jake Opitz double, put Tennessee up 5-0 after two.
Cashner was relieved with two outs in the top of the sixth by teammate Alex Maestri, who got the final four outs for the Smokies.
Tennessee’s dominant Game 2 performance was in sharp contrast to the tone of Game 1. Mobile erupted for four first-inning runs off Smokies starter Chris Carpenter (1-1). Another four-run frame in the fourth knocked Carpenter out of the game and secured the win for starter Tom Layne (3-1).
Spencer’s solo home run in and Starlin Castro’s 2-for-3 effort were the only highlights on offense for the Smokies in that first game. Spencer reached base a total of four times across the two games while Castro extended his hit streak to six games with a single and his fifth triple of the year.