Smokies Erupt Early, Blast Suns, 9-4
SEVIERVILLE - Tennessee wasted no time creating distance between them and Jacksonville by scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. LF Chesny Young picked up three hits and RF Lane Adams added a three-run home run, as the Smokies defeated the Suns, 9-4, on Saturday night in front of 6,541 fans at Smokies Stadium.
With the win, Tennessee improves to 21-32 in the second half and 49-74 in total. Jacksonville's loss snaps their season-high-tying four game winning streak and drops them to 27-27 in the season's second leg, as well as 57-67 overall.
With one out in the first, 2B Tommy La Stella (1-3, R, 2 BB) singled to center before being erased on a fielder's choice. It looked like the inning would come to a close, but a throwing error allowed 1B David Freitas (1-5, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI) to reach, keeping the frame alive. 3B Jason Vosler (1-4, R, RBI) followed with a RBI single to center to put the Smokies up, 1-0.
Adams (1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, SO) would increase that lead on the very next pitch. The 26-year-old cranked the first pitch he saw down the right-field line and off the metal retaining fence for a three-run homer. The blast - Adams' second as a Smokie and eighth of the season - put Tennessee ahead, 4-0.
The Smokies would further separate themselves from their opponent in the second. Young (3-4, R, BB) ignited the rally with a two-out single to left before La Stella walked and C Victor Caratini (1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB) singled to load the bases. Just two offerings later, Freitas cleared the bags. The 27-year-old laced a sharp grounder down the left-field line and into the corner. All three runners crossed the plate on Freitas' double, giving Tennessee a 7-0 advantage.
Vosler then stroked a ground ball to second that was booted. Freitas came home to score on the error to stretch lead to 8-0 Smokies.
Tennessee added one last run in the sixth as Gioskar Amaya (1-1, R) slapped a pinch-hit single to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. The Venezuelan native scooted to third on a fly out and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Caratini.
CF Kenny Wilson (3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, SO) drove in three of Jacksonville's four runs on the night. The speedster slapped a RBI double to center in the fifth to break up the shutout, as well as collecting two-run, two-bagger in the seventh. 1B Chris Curley (1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 SO) drove in the contest's final run in the eighth with a run-scoring double to left-center.
RHP Brad Markey (6.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) shined on the bump for the Smokies. The 24-year-old yielded only one run over six innings - striking out a season-high six - to earn his team-leading seventh win of the season.
LHP Matt Tracy (4.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, SO) suffered his fifth loss with the Suns after surrendering seven hits in four innings. Five of the eight runs the southpaw issued on Saturday were unearned.
Young (3-4, R, BB) continued his torrid month of August with his second three-plus-hit game in three days. At press time, Young (.302) leads Jackson OF Tyler O'Neill (.301) by one point for the Southern League batting title. Caratini (1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB) improved his average to .298 and trails his teammate by four points. La Stella (1-3, R, 2 BB) reached base three times in his first game back in the lineup since Wednesday.
Tennessee looks to finish the series with another win tomorrow night as RHP Zach Hedges (3-1, 1.50 ERA) - who enters on a 19-inning scoreless streak - is scheduled to take the ball for the Smokies. LHP Dillon Peters (2-0, 0.71 ERA) is slated to make his third Southern League start for the visiting Suns.
The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 4:50 p.m. ET, leading up to the 5:05 p.m. ET start from Smokies Stadium. Sunday night's contest can be heard exclusively on SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps. The game can also be viewed on MiLB.tv.
UT Weekend wraps up on Sunday with a U.S. Cellular Family FUNday. For $48, fans can enjoy a package that include four tickets, four meal vouchers and two kid's zone wristbands.
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.