Smokies Jump Ahead Early, But Fall To Generals 8-4

SEVIERVILLE - The Smokies were able to jump ahead of the Generals in the first inning, but it was Jackson who came out on top by the count of 8-4 on Thursday night. C Victor Caratini had a big night for the Smokies going 2-for-4 with an RBI as did LF Mark Zagunis who picked up a pair of RBI.

With the loss the Smokies drop to 23-30 on the season while the Generals extended their winning streak to eight games while improving to 35-18 overall.

While it was the Generals who jumped out to an early lead in the first two games of the series, the Smokies were the ones that found themselves on top early on. CF Jacob Hannemann (2-4, R, BB, 2 SO) led off with a single before he stole second. Zagunis (2-4, 2 RBI, R, BB, SO) then came up with one out and delivered an RBI double. RF Billy McKinney (1-3, RBI, R, 2 BB, 2 SO) later drove in Zagunis from third with two outs before Caratini (2-4, RBI, BB, SO) connected for a double scoring McKinney and handing Tennessee a 3-0 advantage.

RHP Paul Blackburn (4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 7 SO, 3 BB) made quick order of the Generals in the first three innings in giving up just two hits before finding himself in a jam in the fourth frame.

LF Tyler O'Neill (2-4, RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 SO) led off the fourth with a double off the left field wall, but Blackburn settled in to get out of the situation getting DH Leon Landry (3-5, 2 RBI) to ground out, striking out 1B D.J. Peterson (1-5, RBI, 3 SO) before ending the inning thanks to a fly out from 2B Tim Lopes (1-5).

The Generals were however able to get their offense going in the fifth. 3B Brock Hebert (0-3, 2 R, BB, SO) began the rally by drawing a one out walk. CF Ian Miller (2-5, 2 R, SO) then came to the dish and delivered a single to left. SS Benji Gonzales (3-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, SO) was then handed a free pass before RF Guillermo Heredia (0-4, RBI, 2 SO) drove in Hebert with a sacrifice fly to right. With O'Neill at the dish Blackburn threw a wild pitch letting Miller cross the plate. Landry capped off the inning and gave the Generals a 4-3 lead with a single down the right field line.

RHP Juan Paniagua (1.1 IP, H, 2 SO) came on in relief to get the final out of the fifth and he did so in striking out Peterson. Paniagua gave up a lead off double to Lopes in the sixth, but got out of the jam while picking up his second K of his outing.

The Generals turned to the bullpen to begin the sixth as LHP Ryan Horstman replaced RHP Jordan Pries (5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 SO, 3 BB). Hortsman (1.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB) was able to retire DH Kelly Dugan (0-4, SO) on a line out to short to start the frame but the Smokies offense came alive. 2B Stephen Bruno (2-4, R, SO) smoked a single down the right field line. Horstman then loaded the bases with walks to SS Chesny Young (1-3, 2 BB, SO) and Hannemann. Zagunis stepped to the plate and picked up an RBI tying things up at 4-4 with a single to left.

RHP David Berg (1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB) came out of the Smokies' bullpen to start the seventh and the 23-year-old found himself in some trouble. Gonzales led off and connected for a double to left and was driven home thanks to an O'Neill base knock to left field. Landry followed that up by reaching on a fielding error by 1B Bijan Rademacher (0-4, SO). Perterson immediately drove in O'Neill with a base knock up the middle handing the Generals a 6-4 lead over Tennessee.

Berg's night was done after he began the eight by walking Littlewood and giving up a base hit to Miller. RHP Miguel Mejia (1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) took the mound with a one out and two runners in scoring position. On his third pitch of the evening Gonzales hit a laser down the right field line scoring both Hebert and Miller pushing the Jackson lead to 8-4.

RHP Edwin Diaz (2.0 IP, 2 SO, BB) took the mound for Jackson in relief of RHP Dan Altavilla (1.0 IP, SO, BB) to start the eighth frame and the Mariner's No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America made quick order of the Smokies as he retired the side and picked up two strikeouts. Diaz worked through the ninth as well with a walk and three ground outs.

The Smokies and Generals will do battle again on Friday night with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Smokies Stadium. Tennessee will give the mound to RHP Tyler Skulina (2-2, 3.83 ERA) while Jackson has yet to name their probable starter.

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET leading up to the first pitch from Smokies Stadium at 7:05 p.m. ET. Friday night's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps. The game can also be seen on MiLB.tv.

Friday night will be Swingin' to the Oldies Night at Smokies Stadium presented by Alzheimer's Tennessee. There will be special on-field games, throwback tunes and videoboard graphics as a part of that evening's contest. As well, the Smokies will be wearing unique throwback uniforms that will be auctioned off throughout the contest. The proceeds will benefit the Smokies' charity of choice, Alzheimer's Tennessee. Friday evening's game will also be Girl Scout Sleepover Night, as local troops will have the opportunity to camp out on the Smokies Stadium field following the game. Finally, like all Friday matchups, there will be Postgame Fireworks courtesy of Pepsi, Coors Light, WIVK, WVLT and the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Tickets for all five games of Tennessee's contests are still available, and can be purchased at www.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.