SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Smokies were defeated on Friday night 6-3 by the Birmingham Barons in game one of the series. Trent Giambrone had two hits in the game to lead the team offensively. Oscar De La Cruz got the start for the Smokies and limited the damage in the game. De La
SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Smokies were defeated on Friday night 6-3 by the Birmingham Barons in game one of the series. Trent Giambrone had two hits in the game to lead the team offensively.
Oscar De La Cruz got the start for the Smokies and limited the damage in the game. De La Cruz pitched six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out six. He gave up three runs in the first three innings, but managed to pitch three scoreless after.
After getting down 3-0 to start the game, the Smokies made their offensive push in the bottom of the fifth. Giambrone singled to start the rally and moved to third on a single by Jeffrey Baez. With two outs, Jason Vosler came through with a double down the right field line that scored Giambrone. Yasiel Balaguert was the next batter and he continued the momentum as he doubled to right and scored Baez and Vosler to tie the game up at three.
Jordan Minch replaced De La Cruz in the seventh inning and got himself into trouble as he loaded the bases with nobody out. However, Minch settled down, forcing two pop outs and striking out one to end the inning unscathed. James Norwood replaced Minch in the eighth inning and worked out of a jam himself to keep the game tied. The carousal of relievers continued in the ninth inning as Tommy Nance pitched a scoreless inning.
Nance could not keep it going in the tenth though, as he loaded the bases and gave up three runs. Scott Effross replaced Nance with one out and was able to get out of it, but the Barons took a 6-3 lead. The Smokies brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the tenth but a strikeout and flyout ended the game.
Tennessee and Birmingham will be back in action on Saturday for game two of the series at 7 p.m. Michael Rucker will take the mound for the Smokies tomorrow as he looks for his sixth win of the season. The Barons will counter with Dane Dunning who will look for his second win of the year against the Smokies.
The full schedule for this season and information regarding single-game tickets, season tickets, and mini plans can be found 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
