Tennessee closed a four game road trip by splitting a double-header with the Greenville Braves Saturday night to pull 5 1/2 games behind Eastern Division leader Jacksonville with eight games left in the season.
The Smokies must sweep the two series this week at Smokies Park and hope for Jacksonville and Greenville to lose, to have a chance to play for the Southern League by winning the Eastern Division.
The Smokies will host Huntsville and West Tenn in an eight game home stand this week to close the season.
Tennessee snapped a five-game losing streak with the win over Greenville Saturday night in game one of the double-header.
With the score tied at 1-1 after the first inning, Paul Chiaffredo hit his 10th home run of the season in the top of the second to give Tennessee a lead that they would not relinquish.
Vinnie Chulk scattered five hits over 5 1/3 innings to pick up his 13th win of the year. Chulk joins fellow Smokies starter Diego Markwell as the only 13-game winners in the Southern League.
Tennessee added runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to hold off the Braves.
Peter Bauer took the loss in game two as the Braves scored four runs on five hits.
Jung Bong (7-8) struck out seven batters in six innings to get the win for Greenville.

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