The Tennessee Smokies (25-34) had one run leads in the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings but could not hold on and lost to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (35-23) at Pringles Park, 10-9, Tuesday in eleventh innings.

Tuesday’s loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Smokies, who remain in last place in the Southern League’s North Division as the first half of the season comes to a close this month. The teams with the best records in both Southern League divisions—the North and the South—are given automatic playoff berths regardless of how they perform in the second half of the season. Even though the Smokies appear to be out of any contention for the first-half North Division crown, they can still earn a spot in the postseason by winning the second half division championship or by garnering a wild card berth.

The Smokies proved they are capable of competing with one of the best teams in the Southern League with their recent run of five-straight wins and even in their extra-inning loss Tuesday night to the Diamond Jaxx. West Tenn is tied with Birmingham of the South Division for the second best record in the Southern League with a 35-24 mark. The Diamond Jaxx trail North Division leader Huntsville by a game while Birmingham holds a rather comfortable seven-game lead on the South Division’s second place Montgomery Rays (28-31).

West Tenn’s Jeff Dominguez sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eleventh inning scored Luis Valbuena with the winning run Tuesday night in Jackson. The Diamond Jaxx snapped a three game losing streak.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.