Generals Blank Smokies In Finale, 4-0
JACKSON, Tenn. - Generals' RHP's Sam Gaviglio and Kyle Schepel dominated on Sunday afternoon, allowing just three hits and two walks, as Jackson completed a five-game sweep of the Tennessee Smokies with a 4-0 win at The Ballpark at Jackson.
With the loss, Tennessee finishes the season's first half with a 28-42 record. Jackson's victory gives them a 46-24 mark going into the All-Star Break. The 46 victories are the most by a team in Generals' franchise history.
The game was a scoreless tussle until Jackson broke the tie in the fifth. 3B Brock Hebert (1-4, R, SO) led off the inning with a single to right and 1B Patrick Brady (2-3, R) followed with a base-hit of his own. After a fly out to right advanced the runner to third, SS Benji Gonzalez (1-3, R, HR, 3 RBI) stepped in. The 26-year-old hit a grounder to first that was misplayed, Gonzalez was safe on the error as Hebert scored to give the Generals a 1-0 lead.
RF Tyler O'Neill (1-2, 2 BB) continued the rally after the miscue by lining a base-hit to center. With the bases loaded and one out, LF Leon Landry (0-3, RBI) lofted a fly ball to left-center. The catch was made, but Brady scored on the sacrifice fly to stretch the Jackson advantage to 2-0.
In the seventh, it was the longball that put the game out of reach. After a one-out walk to CF Guillermo Heredia (1-3, R, BB), Gonzalez turned on a 2-0 fastball. The switch-hitter - batting from the left-hand side - stroked a deep fly ball to right that carried over the fence. The two-run shot - Gonzalez's second of the year - put Jackson ahead, 4-0.
That was more than enough run support for the Generals' pitching staff. Gaviglio (7.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 SO) cruised through his start, retiring 15 straight batters from one out in the second to one out in the seventh. The former St. Louis Cardinal farmhand surrendered just two hits over seven innings for his fourth win of the year.
Schepel (2.0 IP, H, BB, SO) recorded the games final six outs to close out the victory.
Despite suffering his third loss of the year, Smokies' RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 3 SO) hurled his second straight quality start. The 21-year-old yielded just two runs (one earned) over six innings.
Following the three-day All-Star Break, the Smokies will return home to kick off the season's second half against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and the first half champions of the Southern League's South Division, on Thursday, June 23. Neither team has named a starting pitcher for that matchup.
The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Smokies Stadium. Thursday afternoon's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as on SmokiesBaseball.com and via the TuneInRadio and MiLB First Pitch apps. The game can also be viewed on MiLB.tv.
The five-game homestand gets underway with a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday. Fans can get ready for the upcoming weekend with drink specials including $1 draft beers and soft drinks. It will also be a Pilot Prize Night at the ballpark. All fans in attendance will receive Pilot Prize Cards that can award patrons anything from free gas to various food items from Pilot Food Marts.
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.