Suns Outshine Smokies In Opener, 5-1
SEVIERVILLE - RF Ian Happ had a stellar night at the plate - reaching base all four times - but his effort was not enough. Jacksonville smashed two home runs and churned out 15 hits, as the Suns defeated the Tennessee Smokies, 5-1, on Wednesday night in front of 2,465 fans at Smokies Stadium.
With the loss, Tennessee drops to 20-30 in the second half and 48-72 overall. Jacksonville's victory improved their second half mark to 25-26 and 55-66 in total.
The Suns broke up a scoreless contest with a unique blast in the second. With one out, RF Alex Glenn (3-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) launched a fly ball to deep right field. Happ traced the ball back to the fence, but it deflected off his mitt and over the wall for a home run. The solo blast - Glenn's fifth with the Suns - gave Jacksonville a 1-0 lead.
Two more runs would cross the dish against RHP Tyler Skulina (5.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) in the third. CF Kenny Wilson (1-5, R, SO) started the frame with a single to left and LF Austin Dean (2-5, R, 2B, RBI) responded by powering a ball into deep left-center field. The shot caromed off the wall for a double - allowing Wilson to score all the way from first - putting the Suns ahead, 2-0. SS J.T. Riddle (2-4, R, RBI, BB) followed with a single to left - bringing home Dean - to stretch Jacksonville's advantage to 3-0.
Tennessee managed to score their first and only run in the fourth. Happ (3-3, R, BB) led off the frame with an infield single and proceeded to swipe second base. A ground out moved the runner to third before 3B Jason Vosler (0-2, RBI, BB) laced a liner to left. Dean made the catch, but the 22-year-old crossed the plate on the sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 3-1.
Jacksonville immediately responded in the fifth. The second batter of the inning - 3B Brian Anderson (1-5, R, HR, RBI) - launched an 0-1 offering down the left-field line and over the wall for a solo home run. The former Arkansas Razorbacks' shot - his seventh at the Double-A level - gave the Suns a 4-1 edge.
The Suns added one more tally in the eighth, as Riddle smacked a one-out single and stole second base before scoring on Glenn's RBI double.
Skulina (5.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) mustered a gutsy performance - working into the sixth inning - but suffered the his 11th defeat of the season. The 24-year-old allowed four runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work.
RHP Chris Mazza (6.0 IP, 5 H, R, ER, BB, 3 SO) was stellar for the Suns. The right-hander issued just one run on five knocks through six frames to garner his fifth win of the 2016 campaign.
2B Tommy La Stella (1-1) - who joined the Smokies earlier in the day from Triple-A Iowa - singled in his first plate appearance before being hit in the foot with a pitch in the third. The Closter, N.J. native was replaced by Daniel Lockhart defensively in the top of the fifth.
Happ (3-3, R, BB) led the way for Tennessee's offense, collecting three of the team's six hits. The former Cincinnati Bearcat scored the team's lone run and added a steal, as well. C Victor Caratini (0-4) did not reach base in his four plate appearances, snapping his 19-game on-base streak.
Tennessee continues their homestand tomorrow night as RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (5-6, 3.77 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball for the Smokies. LHP Matt Tomshaw (2-3, 3.94 ERA) is slated to toe the slab for the visiting Suns.
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 start from Smokies Stadium. Thursday night's contest can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps. The game can also be viewed on MiLB.tv.
Thursday evening's affair will be Chris Farley Tribute Night at the ballpark. Hilarious and motivational on-field games, music and videoboard graphics will be on display throughout the night to pay respect to the Saturday Night Live megastar. Fans can also get geared up for the weekend thanks to a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday. As a part of the promotion, there will be various drink specials including $1 draft beers and soft drinks. That night's contest will also be a Pilot Prize Night at the stadium. 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.
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/.
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.