Smokies blank Mudcats

Published in Sports on July 25, 2006 2:12 PM

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SEVIERVILLE, Tenn -- Matt Chico pitched seven scoreless innings, while Alberto Gonzalez collected his first four-hit game of the season as Tennessee blanked Carolina 7-0 in the series opener at Smokies Park on Monday night.

Chico (6-2) won his fifth straight start, allowing just four hits and one walk in defeating the Mudcats (12-19 second half) for the second time in two outings this season.

Gonzalez, who paced the Smokies' (17-14) 13-hit attack, doubled twice, tripled in a run in the sixth and singled in the eighth.

Mark Reynolds supplied the big hit during a five-run fourth inning, clobbering a three-run homer against James Russ (5-8), his third in 11 Double-A games, and his 26th combined of the season, second most in the minors.

Chico aided his cause with two run-producing groundouts, one in the fourth and the other in the sixth against reliever Adam Brandenburg.

Carolina mustered just five hits -- all singles -- in being shutout for the 11th time this season.

The game featured the first of the Marlins' most-recent signees, Josh Pressley, who was a top prospect in the Tampa Bay organization. Pressley, who started at first base, went 0-for-4.

Paul Mildren (9-7, 3.42) starts tonight against Tennessee's Garrett Mock (4-8, 4.40) at 7:15.