Coghlan's Big Day Not Enough in 8-4 Loss
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - For the second straight night, Tennessee garnered an early lead, but this time Chattanooga had the last laugh. The Smokies held an early 3-1 advantage, however the Lookouts added five runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth to emerge victorious, 8-4, on Wednesday night at AT&T Field.
With the loss, Tennessee drops to 13-18 in the season's second half and 41-60 overall. The victory snaps a five-game losing streak for Chattanooga and improves their record in the second half to 17-15 and 53-49 in total.
Trailing 3-1, the Lookouts started their rally in the fifth with a one-out infield single by RF Edgar Corcino (3-4, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI). After SS Engelb Vielma (3-4, R, RBI) poked a single to right to put runners at the corners, CF Zack Granite (1-4, RBI, SO) launched a sacrifice fly to center to pull Chattanooga to within a run at 3-2.
With a man at first and two down, it looked like Tennessee would get out of the inning, but a fielding error allowed Vielma to score all the way from first to tie the game at three. The tough frame continued as the next batter - DH Mitch Garver -(2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) - launched a deep fly ball to left that sailed over the fence for a two-run home run. The blast - the former New Mexico Lobo's 10th of the season - put the Lookouts ahead for good, 5-3.
Tennessee would pull a run closer in the top of the sixth thanks to a RBI double to right by Major League rehabber RF Chris Coghlan (3-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB), but Chattanooga responded with three more talles in the bottom of the frame.
C Stuart Turner (1-3, R, BB) drew a walk to start the rally and moved to second on a base-hit to right by LF Shannon Wilkerson (2-4, R). Corcino continued the attack, as he stroked a single of his own into right. Turner scored from second to give the Lookouts a 6-4 advantage.
Vielma followed with a bunt up along the first base side. Smokies reliever RHP Juan Paniagua (0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB) tried to make the tag, but was unsuccessful. The switch-hitter was safe on a single, while Wilkerson crossed the dish to stretch Chattanooga's lead to 7-4.
Garver would add another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to center, which put the Lookouts in front, 8-4.
Tennessee jumped out to an early lead in the first. Coghlan swung at the first pitch of the contest and rolled it into right field for a single. After 3B Chesny Young (1-5) reached on an error, 2B Ian Happ (1-5, 2 RBI) flipped a fly ball to left that dunked fair for a knock. Coghlan scored easily from second on the former first-round pick's single to give the Smokies a 1-0 edge.
Happ would drive in another run in the third. Rehabber and DH Jorge Soler (0-2, R, 3 BB) started the inning with a walk and moved to third on Young's single to right. The 21-year-old proceeded to drive home the Cuban-born Major Leauger on a fielder's choice to second, which gave Tennessee a 2-0 advantage.
Corcino would homer in the third - the first Double-A blast of his career - to pull Chattanooga to within 2-1. The Smokies scratched that run back in the top of the fourth thanks to a LF Bijan Rademacher (2-5, R, 2B) single and a RBI two-bagger by Coghlan.
Despite not having his best stuff, RHP Kohl Stewart (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) earned his fifth win of the season with the Lookouts. The former first-round draftee surrendered three runs on seven hits over five innings in the triumph.
His counterpart - Smokies' RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO) - faired well before a tough fifth inning. The Taiwanese native issued five runs (two earned) on seven hits over five frames and suffered his fourth defeat of the 2016 campaign.
The Smokies will look regain the series edge on Thursday night, as they are expected to send RHP Michael Wagner (1-0, 1.00 ERA) to the bump. LHP David Hurlbut (7-5, 3.56 ERA) is scheduled to toe the slab for the Lookouts.
The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 7:00 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:15 p.m. ET first pitch from AT&T Field. Wednesday evening's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as SmokiesBaseball.com and via the TuneInRadio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
After the road trip, the Smokies will return home on Friday, August 5, for a five-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. In honor of the upcoming festivies in Rio de Janeiro, it will be Olympics Night at the ballpark. There will be special videoboard graphics, on-field games and music as a part of the fun. It will also be College Fair Night, as students will have a chance to meet with representatives from local colleges and universities on the concourse. The affair on August 5 will also be another Scout Night with special ticket packages available for local boy and girl scout groups. Finally, like all Friday home contests, there will be a tremendous postgame fireworks show following the final out. Friday night fireworks are presented by Pepsi, Coors Light, WIVK, WVLT and the Knoxville News Sentinel.
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.
The Tennessee Smokies Charity of Choice for the 2016 season is Alzheimer's Tennessee. Alzheimer's Tennessee's mission is to serve those facing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, to promote brain health through education, and to champion global prevention and treatment efforts. For more information on how to join the Tennessee Smokies in helping Alzheimer's Tennessee achieve their mission, please visit http://www.alztennessee.org/smokies/.
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.