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04/11/2009 2:27 AM ET
Thomas sparks Smokies' rout
Cubs infield prospect homers twice, drives in five
By Danny Wild / MLB.com
Tony Thomas was the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Florida State League Finals. (Jerry Hale/MiLB.com)

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Tony Thomas homered twice, tied a career high with five RBIs and scored four times Friday, powering the Tennessee Smokies to a 10-3 rout of the Jacksonville Suns.

One night after making his Double-A debut, Thomas went 4-for-5 with a three-run double in the eighth inning.

The 22-year-old second baseman greeted Suns starter Sean West with a leadoff shot in the first inning. He went yard again in the fifth, sending another leadoff blast to left to give the Smokies a 4-1 lead. His bases-clearing double three innings later off reliever Jay Buente made it 9-3.

It was the biggest game for the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year since he homered, tripled and drove in five runs for Class A Advanced Daytona last June 5.

Thomas was a Baseball America short-season All-Star in 2007 before earning Florida State League All-Star and Championship Series MVP honors last summer. He finished the '08 campaign batting .266 with seven homers, 43 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.