JACKSON, TENN. – The Diamond Jaxx (35-33) commit five errors on Saturday night, aiding the Tennessee Smokies (37-31) to a 3-1 win over the Jaxx. Smokies starter, Andrew Cashner (3-4) retired the first 14 batters he faced and cruised to his third Double-A victory. The Smokies now lead the Diamond Jaxx by two games in the North Division with two games remaining. The Jaxx must win the final two games of the regular season in order to force a play-in game with Tennessee on Tuesday. The loss spoils the best start by Dan Cortes in a Diamond Jaxx jersey. Cortes worked a season high, seven innings on the mound, yielding just one earned run on two hits, and fanning seven batters. In the loss, Matt Mangini hit his 12th homer of the season, finishing the night 2-for-3 at the plate. Each team struggled offensively, combining for just seven hits in the game.
 
After three scoreless innings at Pringles Park, Tennessee’s Starlin Castro reached on an error by Carlos Triunfel scoring Blake Lalli from third. Lalli lined a one out double to the left field line and scored on the two out error by Triunfel, who committed three errors in the game.
 
Andrew Cashner (3-4), the 19th overall selection in the 2007 draft by the Cubs retired the first 14 batters that he saw on Saturday night. Finally, in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, Matt Mangini plugged the left-center gap giving the Jaxx their first base runner.
 
Tennessee plated two more runs in the top of the eighth inning.  After a sacrifice bunt by Jim Adduci, Marquez Smith brought in Jonathan Mota with a single, pushing the Smokies lead to 2-0. The Smokies pushed another run across in the inning on a throwing error by Matt Mangini.
 
Dan Cortes (1-5) left the game after a season high, seven plus innings on the mound. Cortes allowed two runs (one earned) on just two hits. Cortes fanned seven and walked three in the game. Cortes has struck out 24 batters in his last three starts.
 
Andrew Cashner tossed a season high seven innings for the Smokies as well on Saturday. Cashner dealt seven scoreless innings and scattered just two hits. He struck out two and walked one.
 
With Cashner out of the game, Matt Mangini drilled a solo homerun to left-center, pulling the Jaxx within a pair of runs at 3-1. Marcos Mateo surrendered the blast and the Jaxx were on the scoreboard, but scored no more. Brian Schlitter earned his 22nd save of the season, working a perfect ninth inning.
 
The Jaxx are forced into a must-win situation on Sunday as RHP Steve Bray (7-7, 2.88) takes the mound for the Diamond Jaxx. Making the start for the Smokies will be RHP Hung-Wen Chen (7-11, 4.71)
Tennessee Smokies (69-69) 3, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (62-76) 1
September 5, 2009
123456789RHE
Tennessee      000100020340
West Tenn      000000010135









TennesseeABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Guyer, CF4110011.184
Adduci, LF3000011.298
Smith, M, 3B4011021.280
Lalli, DH4110011.315
Colvin, RF4000013.300
Castro, SS3000113.286
Canzler, 1B3000112.253
Castillo, W, C4010012.230
Mota, J, 2B2000102.239
  1-Thomas, PR-2B1100010.253
  Cashner, P0000000.313
  Mateo, M, P0000000.067
  Schlitter, P0000000.000
Totals3234131016.268
 

1-Ran for Mota, J in the 8th.
 
BATTING
2B: Castillo, W (15, Cortes), Lalli (25, Cortes).
TB: Guyer; Smith, M; Lalli 2; Castillo, W 2.
RBI: Smith, M (49).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Canzler; Adduci; Lalli; Castillo, W; Castro.
S: Adduci.
GIDP: Mota, J.
Team RISP: 1-for-14.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
SB: Castro 2 (6, 2nd base off Cortes/Yepez, Jo, 3rd base off Cortes/Yepez, Jo), Adduci (35, 2nd base off Cortes/Yepez, Jo).

FIELDING
Outfield assists: Guyer (Halman at 1st base).
DP: (Guyer-Canzler).
West TennABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Carrera, E, CF4000000.340
Halman, RF3000110.211
Hubbard, 1B4000001.273
Limonta, LF3010000.299
Triunfel, 2B300

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