Smokies Fall 4-3, Drop Out Of First Place

Birmingham plated single scores in the first, second, third and fifth frames, while five Barons batters recorded multi-hit efforts, with left fielder Chris Marrero and right fielder Christopher Marrero combining to drive in three of the club's four runs in a 4-3 victory over the Tennessee Smokies in front of a crowd of 5,545 on Saturday evening at Smokies Stadium.

With the win, the Barons improved to 27-29 on the year, while the defeat was the Smokies' second consecutive loss, with the club falling to 31-25 in 2015. Tennessee's loss combined with Chattanooga's win over the Jackson Generals means the Smokies are now one game behind the Lookouts for first place in the Southern League North Division with 14 games remaining.

Birmingham struck first early with a single tally in the initial frame. SS Tim Anderson led off the contest by lacing the first pitch to center and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, before coming across via Chris Marrero's run-scoring two-bagger to right-center to make it a 1-0 game.

The Smokies, however, struck right back with a three-spot in the bottom of the first. CF Albert Almora Jr. and C Kyle Schwarber drew back-to-back one-out free passes and then advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch to bring up C Willson Contreras, who smacked a two-run single to center to push the Smokies ahead 2-1. That margin would double to two courtesy of RF Billy McKinney's RBI double to left to finish the three-run frame.

The Barons began clawing away at the deficit from that point, plating single tallies in the second, third and fifth innings. Three consecutive singles from DH Brian Fletcher, 1B Danny Hayes and C Adrian Nieto loaded the bases before Fletcher scored on a force out to make it a one-run ballgame, while Anderson in the very next frame walked, stole second and third, and then came plateward via RF Christian Marrero's run-scoring double to even the game at 3-3.

The tie would last until that fateful fifth, when Birmingham would score the game's final run. 2B Joey DeMichele began the inning with a double and came around to score when Christian Marrero smashed an RBI single to right to plate the go-ahead tally to push the Barons ahead 4-3.

The Smokies would later threaten with runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames, but were unable to bring across another tally. Tennessee overall at the plate collected just two hits in 14 at bats with runners in scoring position on the evening, though several balls were stung right at Barons fielders.

Five Birmingham batters tallied multi-hit efforts, including DeMichele (2-4, R), Chris Marrero (2-4, 2B, RBI, BB), Christian Marrero (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Fletcher (2-4, R) and Nieto (2-4). Soto (2-5), Contreras (2-4, R, 2 RBI) and McKinney (2-4, 2B, RBI) each collected two base knocks as well for the Smokies, with the latter two continuing their hot hitting ways.

Contreras has now recorded hits in each of his last nine games, in addition to at least one base hit in 16 of his last 17 contests dating back to May 20. Over that 17-game span, the backstop has posted a .393 average (24-65), adding 12 runs, six doubles, three homers and 19 RBI. McKinney, meanwhile, has accrued hits in ten of his last 12 matchups dating back to May 24, batting .333 (15-45) in that time frame with five runs, four doubles, one triple and seven RBI.

Barons starter Myles Jaye (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) recorded a quality start to earn his four victory of the year to improve to 4-3, while J.B. Wendelken (1.0 IP, 2 H, SO) and Cody Winiarski (2.0 IP, H) received a hold and save, respectively. Smokies starter Jeffry Antigua (3.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) did not factor in the final decisions, while relief man Andres Santiago (2.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO) suffered the defeat. The Tennessee bullpen duo of Corey Black (2.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 SO) and P.J. Francescon (1.0 IP, H, SO) joined forces for the final three shutout frames as well.

Tennessee and Birmingham are slated to next square off in a Sunday matinee at Smokies Stadium, with first pitch anticipated for 2:05 p.m. ET. RHP Frank Batista is expected to toe the rubber for the Smokies, while RHP Mark Blackmar (0-3, 4.24) is anticipated to take the mound for the Barons.

It's another U.S. Cellular Family FUNday at the ballpark, with a great value available for families on this day. For only $48 dollars, fans can purchase four ticket vouchers, four meal vouchers and two wristbands to Homer the Hound's Playland.

Tickets for that game, and all other remaining Smokies home games are still available, and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.