Contreras Ignites Smokies in 7-1 Romp
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Smokies' C Willson Contreras collected a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the fifth, while starter Jeffry Antigua tossed six innings of shutout ball, as Tennessee upended the Chattanooga Lookouts, 7-1, to capture the series on Thursday night at AT&T Field.
With the victory, the Smokies moved back to .500 in the season's second half with a 30-30 clip and improved to 69-60 overall. Chattanooga's loss dropped them to 26-32 in the second leg of the 2015 campaign and 69-57 in total.
The game was scoreless through two frames before the Smokies jumped out in front in the top of the third. With one out, SS Ryan Dent (1-3, R, BB, SO) reached on single to left and LF Jacob Hannemann (1-5, 2B, RBI, 2 SO) followed by lacing a hard-hit grounder to the left side. The ball trickled all the way to the wall and runner at first never slowed down. Dent scampered all the way around to score on Hannemann's double to put Tennessee ahead, 1-0.
In the fourth, Contreras (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, SO) sparked another rally with a leadoff single into left and, with one away, DH Taylor Davis (3-4, 2B, RBI, BB) walked. With runners at first and second, 3B Jeimer Candelario (2-4, R, RBI, BB) slapped another grounder through a hole on the left side of the infield. Contreras put on the jets to score from second, as the 21-year old's RBI single put the Smokies up 2-0.
Again, it was Contreras who came through with the big knock to create some distance between Tennessee and Chattanooga in the fifth. CF Albert Almora Jr. (1-5, R) reached on a one-out single to center and RF Bijan Rademacher (1-5, R, 2B) continued the attack with a double to right. After jumping ahead in the count 2-0, Contreras rifled an offering from Lookouts' starter D.J. Baxendale (5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 SO) that stayed just fair down the third base line and rolled into the corner. Both runners scored easily on the double, as Tennessee double their advantage at 4-0.
Thanks to a pair of defensive miscues, Tennessee was able to pad their lead again in the sixth. After loading the bases with nobody out thanks to a single and back-to-back walks, Chattanooga reliever Brandon Peterson (1.0 IP, H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB) induced consecutive to pop outs. Nearly out of the jam, the right-hander got Rademacher to roll over on a pitch to the right-side of the infield. However, the ball was booted twice, allowing both runs to score. Two errors were charged on the mishap to give the Smokies a 6-0 lead.
Tennessee added another tally in the ninth on a RBI single by Davis. Chattanooga scored its only run of the evening against the Smokies' bullpen in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, RF Travis Harrison (0-2, R, 2 BB) scored on a double play off the bat of C Jairo Rodriguez (1-2, BB).
The early advantage was all the support Antigua (6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 SO) needed on Thursday. The left-hander allowed just four hits over six scoreless frames for just his second quality start as a Smokie this season. The 25-year old also tallied his fifth Double-A victory of 2015 with his performance. Baxendale (5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 SO) yielded four runs over five innings in his fifth defeat of the year.
Davis (3-4, 2B, RBI, BB) led all players with three hits on Thursday, while adding a double and a RBI. Contreras (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, SO) and Candelario (2-4, R, RBI, BB) each compiled a pair of hits for Tennessee, as well.
In defeat, Rodriguez (2-3, BB) and 2B Levi Michael (2-4, SO) recorded the Lookouts' only multi-hit efforts.
The Smokies return home to open up their final homestand of the 2015 season against the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, on Friday evening. Tennessee is expected to send right-hander Andres Santiago (2-5, 4.70 ERA), who was activated from the Disabled List on Thursday, to bump. Jacksonville is expected to counter with southpaw Chipper Smith (3-3, 4.39 ERA).
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 AT&T Field. Friday night's broadcast can be heard exclusively on SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
Friday evening's affair will be a Remote Area Medical Friday featuring a post-game fireworks display presented by Pepsi, Coors Light and Dollywood Splash Country. The series opener will also be Augtoberfest Night, which will include Bavarian-themed games, music and special videoboard graphics.
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.