Five-Run Fifth Costs Smokies in 11-4 Loss
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Despite jumping out a 4-0 lead, Tennessee could not hang on. Chattanooga SS Niko Goodrum sparked the comeback by drilling the go-ahead, three-run single in the fifth and added a two-run homer in the seventh, as the Lookouts scored the final 11 runs of the game to defeat the Smokies, 11-4, on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Field.
The defeat dropped the Smokies back below .500 in the second half of the campaign at 24-25 and dipped their overall clip to 63-55. With the victory, Chattanooga captured the series and improved to 22-26 in the second leg of the 2015 season and 65-51 in total.
With the Smokies leading 4-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, Chattanooga took advantage of a pair of free passes. With two on and nobody out, DH Max Kepler (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB) singled to right and 1B D.J. Hicks (1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, SO) walked to bring the tying run to the plate. However, that was all for Tennessee starter Jeffry Antigua (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO), as right-hander Andres Santiago (1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, SO) emerged from the bullpen to try and quell the rally.
RF Travis Harrison (0-2, R, 3 BB, SO) stepped in and drew a walk to load the bases for LF Adam Brett Walker (1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SO). The Southern League's leader in RBI's smacked a run-scoring single to center to cut the deficit to 4-2. With the bases still loaded, Goodrum (3-5, 3 R, 3B, HR, 4 RBI) put the Lookouts ahead for good. On a 1-2 offering from Santiago, the switch-hitter clocked a line drive into left-center field for a base-hit. Kepler and Hicks scored easily to tie the game and Harrison hustled home to cross the plate on a throwing error. In all, three runs scored to give the Lookouts their first and only lead of the game, 5-4.
The attack did not end there. After C Jairo Rodriguez (1-5, RBI) drove home Goodrum with a RBI single to center, Chattanooga added another run in the sixth and four more in the seventh.
In the sixth, the Lookouts stretched the advantage to 7-4, as Kepler doubled with two away and Hicks brought him home with a run-scoring single to right. In the seventh, Goodrum cracked a two-run blast over the right field wall - his fourth homer with the Lookouts and his seventh of the year - to increase the Smokies' deficit to 9-4. Later in the frame, Kepler added to the home team's advantage with a two-run double off the wall in the left.
The Smokies initially jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first three frames out the contest. With two on and one out, RF Anthony Giansanti (1-4, RBI) put Tennessee on the board with a run-scoring ground out in the top of the second, which put the Smokies ahead, 1-0.
Tennessee seemed to bust it open in the third. With two away, LF Albert Almora Jr. (1-4, R, 2B) doubled to stretch his hitting streak to 13 games and 2B Stephen Bruno (1-4, R, RBI) followed with a RBI single to right. C Willson Contreras (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) continued the attack with a run-scoring knock to center and came around to score the third and final run of the frame on a RBI base-hit by SS Jonathan Mota (1-3, RBI, BB, SO).
Despite surrendering four runs, Lookouts starter Jason Wheeler (5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) exited with the lead. The southpaw went five innings to improve his Double-A record to 3-2 on the year. His counterpart, Antigua (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO) exited with his squad in front, but did not factor into the decision. Santiago (1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, SO) suffered his fifth loss of the campaign in relief.
The Lookouts bullpen was stellar in support of Wheeler. Right-handers Alex Wimmers (2.0 IP, 3 SO), D.J. Johnson (1.0 IP, BB) and J.T. Chargois (1.0 IP, SO) combined to allow just two baserunners - a walk to 3B Jeimer Candelario (1-3, BB, 2 SO) in the eighth and single by Giansanti in the ninth - over four shutout frames to close out the contest.
Goodrum (3-5, 3 R, 3B, HR, 4 RBI) stole the show for Chattanooga by tallying a game-best four RBI. The switch-hitter also fell a double short of the cycle. Kepler (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB) also starred, as he tied Goodrum for a game-high three knocks.
Contreras (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) led the offensive charge for the Smokies by accumulating a pair of hits - including his 30th double of the year - and drove in a run.
After an off day tomorrow, the Smokies will return home to square off against the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, on Tuesday night. Tennessee is expected to send Southern League Mid-Season All-Star RHP Felix Pena (5-7, 3.96 ERA) to bump. Montgomery has not yet named their starter for Tuesday's contest.
The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET, leading up to a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Smokies Stadium. Tuesday evening's broadcast can be heard exclusively on Sports Radio 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
Tuesday evening's affair will be a Nexgard/Heartgard Tail Waggin' Tuesday. Fans will be able to enjoy the contest with their dogs out on the berm courtesy of Nexgard/Heartgard.
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.