Smokies win series-opener

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies defeated the Jackson Generals 3-1 on Sunday evening at Smokies Stadium. It was Tennessee's 63rd win of the season and put them at .500 in the second half with a 27-27 record. 
Matt Swarmer got the start for Tennessee and retired the first 11 batters before allowing a hit. Swarmer finished his start going six innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out a season-high nine. Swarmer struck out seven of the first nine batters in the game. 
The Smokies got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Yasiel Balaguert singled to start the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Wynton Bernard singled to center field and Balaguert beat the throw to home which made it a 1-0 game. 
Jackson tied the game up in the top of the fourth, but the Smokies answered back in the bottom of the fifth. Zack Short wasted no time in the inning as he hit the second pitch of the at-bat over the fence in left field that put Tennessee up 2-1. It was Short's 16th home run of the season and 56th RBI which ties him for the team lead. 
Scott Effross replaced Swarmer in the top of the seventh, and he pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one. Brad Markey was the next arm out of the pen, and he threw a scoreless inning as well. 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Smokies received a much-needed insurance run. Trent Giambrone led off the inning with a single and stole second. It was his 23rd stolen base of the year. Giambrone then moved to third on a groundout and scored when an Eddy Martinez groundball was bobbled to make it a 3-1 game. Allen Webster closed the game out on the mound for Tennessee. 
The Smokies and Generals will be back in action on Monday night for game two of the series in Kodak. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Thomas Hatch is the projected starter for Tennessee as he looks for win number eight of the season. Hatch is 3-3 on the season in home starts with a 4.27 ERA. The Generals will counter with Bo Takahashi who has a 2-3 record on the season.
Written by Rob Harvey, Broadcast Assistant for the Tennessee 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