SEVIERVILLE, TENN. -- The Tennessee Smokies clubbed four home runs in the first-half finale to ruin Carolina's chance at a first-half post-season berth, defeating the Mudcats 8-6 at Smokies Park on Sunday night.

The Mudcats (37-32) took the field knowing that they had to win to force a one-game playoff with Huntsville in July to determine the first-half champion. Huntsville, which had lost six straight entering Sunday's action, downed Birmingham 8-3 earlier in the afternoon.

Carolina, which advanced to last year's Southern League Championship Series, went ahead 2-0 in the second on an RBI-double by Logan Parker, then a single to center by Eric Eymann.

However, Alexander Smit (L, 2-2), who was activated from the disabled list before the game, allowed four runs on two homers in the second to give up the lead. Wellington Castillo, who was hitting .199 entering the game, swallowed a Smit pitch over the left-centerfield wall for a three-run shot three hitters after Marquez Smith jacked a solo homer to begin the inning.

In the third, Tennessee (32-38) hit a pair of solo homers against reliever Sean Watson, including Smith's second of the game. Russ Canzler hit a blast to left field to lift the Smokies to a 6-2 lead.

Even without Yonder Alonso and Juan Francisco's bats in the lineup due to injuries, Carolina climbed back into the game with three in the fifth inning.

Alonso, the Reds' top-rated prospect, went on the disabled list Friday with a broken hamate bone in his right hand. He suffered the injury taking a swing on a 3-0 fastball in the second game of a Thursday doubleheader against Tennessee.

Alonso will be further assessed in the coming few days to determine the course of action for healing and rehabilitation. No timetable has been set for his return.

Francisco, a standout third baseman, was placed on the seven-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right hamstring, retroactive to June 20. In the first half finale, the Mudcats' Jose Castro swatted a double to left to bring home a run, with Chris Heisey following with a sacrifice fly to chase home Jake Kahaulelio. Todd Frazier then drilled a single to left to score Castro to cut the deficit to 6-5.

However, Tennessee scored a run in the sixth and seventh and carried an 8-5 lead into the ninth with closer Brian Schlitter in the game.

Carolina singled on each of Schlitter's first two pitches of the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate. Schlitter fanned pinch hitter Denis Phipps, then retired Sean Henry on a fly ball, but Castro delivered a chop single to center to score a run, and bring MVP candidate Heisey to the plate as the go-ahead run. But on a 1-1 pitch, Heisey flew out to Tyler Colvin in left field to end the game and award the first half title in the North to Huntsville.

Carolina begins the second half of the season with a six-game series against Jacksonville at Five County Stadium, which runs through Saturday night.