Smokies win 7th straight, 11-1; Colvin ties SL record

Tyler Colvin tied the Southern League record with his 11th consecutive hit before flying out in the 5th inning as the Smokies won their seventh straight, 11-1 over Carolina.

Colvin was two for three with a home run and three runs-batted-in for Tennessee, while Jeremy Papelbon struck out five and gave up one run on six hits to even his record at 4-4.

The Smokies winning streak that began in Mobile has carried them to within half a game of North Division leader Chattanooga.

Here's the Smokies release on the game:

Tyler Colvin came into Sunday's game needing three hits in his first three at bats to tie the Southern League record for most consecutive hits. He did that with a three-run home run in the fourth to propel the Smokies to an 11-1 win over the Carolina Mudcats at Smokies Park. The win, in front of 4,525 fans, is the Smokies' seventh in a row and keeps the team a half-game behind Chattanooga for first place in the Southern League North Division.

Coming off a combined 8-for-8 performance at the plate the previous two nights, Colvin wasted no time in extending his hitting streak. He delivered singles in the first and third innings to help the Smokies build a 6-1 lead over Carolina and Mudcats starter Zach Ward (0-1).

Heading into the fourth, Colvin went to the plate needing one more hit to tie the league record for most consecutive hits (11). Colvin would succeed as he drilled a Chris Kelly pitch over the right field wall. The home run was his ninth of the year, and scored teammates Jonathan Mota and Jim Adduci to give the Smokies a commanding 9-1 lead after four.

Two more runs in the bottom of the fifth put the Smokies up 11-1 and Colvin back at the plate. With two outs and runners on first and third, Colvin hit a pitch to Mudcats RF Stephen Chapman. He closed in on the well-hit ball to record the third out and prevent Colvin from breaking the record.

Colvin's 3-for-5 performance Sunday was part of another impressive night at the plate for Tennessee. Marquez Smith (3-for-4, two RBIs) and Ty Wright (2-5, two RBIs) helped anchor the Smokies' 16-hit barrage off the Carolina pitching staff.

Tennessee pitching did its job in Sunday's win. Starter Jeremy Papelbon improved to 4-4 on the year with a six-inning, one-run gem. He scattered five hits and struck out six Mudcats. Relievers Marcos Mateo and Casey Lambert combined to strike out five over the final three innings to preserve the victory.

The Mudcats and Smokies play in Game 3 of the five-game series Monday night at Smokies Park. Tom Cochran (3-3, 3.24) gets the start for Carolina and will face off against Andrew Cashner (1-1, 1.09) for Tennessee. Tickets for Monday's game, which will mark the start of a three-game rehab assignment for Chicago Cubs All-Star catcher Geovany Soto, can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com, by calling (865) 286-2300 or at the Smokies Park ticket office.