Schwarber's Slam Leads Smokies to 4-1 Win
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - C Kyle Schwarber blasted a three-run home run and starting pitcher Frank Batista tossed 6.1 innings of two-hit ball, as the Tennessee Smokies snapped their three-game road losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits on Friday night at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
With the victory, Tennessee improves to 23-19 on the season. With Chattanooga's split of today's doubleheader, the Smokies finish the day three games back of first place in Southern League North Division. For Montgomery, the loss drops them to 18-24 on the year.
With the game still scoreless entering the fifth inning, Schwarber (1-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SO) stepped up to the plate with runners at first and second thanks to back-to-back walks by SS Elliot Soto (0-2, R, BB) and LF Anthony Giansanti (1-4, R, RBI, BB, SO) to start the frame. On the first pitch of the at-bat, the former fourth overall pick launched a towering fly ball to deep right field for a three-run home run. The blast was Schwarber's tenth of the season, good for second in the league, and put Tennessee ahead 3-0.
That was all the support Batista (6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) needed, as the Dominican native stifled the Biscuits throughout. The right-hander retired the first 13 batters he faced, before LF Tyler Goeddel broke up the bid for a perfect game with a one-out single to center in the fifth.
Montgomery tallied their only run of the contest in the seventh inning. SS Daniel Robertson (0-4, R) reached to start the frame on an error and 3B Richie Shaffer (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 SO) followed by ripping a fly ball off the wall in left field. The former Clemson Tiger ended up at second with a RBI double, as Robertson scored to make it 3-1.
RHP P.J. Francescon (0.2 IP, SO) came in to relieve Batista after he forced CF Johnny Field Jr. (0-4, 2 SO) to ground out to third. Francescon, who would lower his ERA to a microscopic 0.55 by the end of the night, forced Goeddel to ground out to short and struck out 1B Patrick Leonard (0-2, BB, 2 SO) swinging to end the threat.
The Smokies would tack on an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. CF Jacob Hannemann (1-3, R, BB) snapped an 0-for-18 streak at the plate with a single to center and 2B Bryant Flete (2-4) picked up the a bunt single to start the frame. After Soto sacrificed the runners to second and third, Giansanti came through with a RBI single to right-center field. Hannemann scored to put Tennessee ahead, 4-1.
Montgomery would bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (2.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO) kept the Biscuits off the scoreboard to tally his fourth save of the year. After issuing walks to RF Boog Powell (0-3, BB) and Shaffer, Edwards Jr. whiffed Field Jr. and Goeddel to end the game. The four strikeouts by the lanky right-hander tied a season-high.
Biscuit starter Jaime Schultz (5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 7 SO) took his second loss of the season. The Biscuits leader in strikeouts issued a season-worst six walks in defeat. Both of Schultz's losses this season have come at the hand of the Smokies.
Batista, who picked up the win for Tennessee, tallied his fifth victory of the year. That ties him with Biloxi's Tyler Wagner for the league-lead. As well, by allowing no earned runs over 6.1 frames, Batista lowered his Southern League-best earned run average to a paltry 1.11.
Flete (2-4), playing in just his second full-season contest, tallied his first Double-A hit with a single to left in the top of the sixth inning. His two base-hits were a game-high. Schwarber (1-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SO) and Giansanti (1-4, R, RBI, BB, SO) drove in all four of Tennessee's runs. Shaffer (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 SO) had Montgomery's lone run batted in.
Tennessee will try and take the lead in this five-game set tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET. LHP Blake Snell (3-0, 0.00 ERA) is expected to start for Montgomery. The Smokies have not yet named their starting pitcher for tomorrow evening's contest.
The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 7:20 p.m. ET, leading up to a 7:35 p.m. ET first pitch from Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. Tomorrow's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as on SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
After this five-game road trip, the Smokies will return home to square off against the Mobile BayBears, the Arizona Diamondbacks' Double-A affiliate, on Wednesday, May 27. Gates open at 6 p.m. and first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Single-game tickets, as well as multi-voucher and season ticket packages are still available, and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES
The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the ten-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.