SMOKIES MAKE IT TWO STRAIGHT OVER WAHOOS WITH 5-3 WIN

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos threatened late against the Tennessee Smokies, but fell short 5-3 at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn. on Friday night. Tennessee has now won the first two games of the five-game series. Blue Wahoos manager Delino DeShields was ejected for the first time in 2013 when he argued an appeal play at first base in the fourth inning. First base umpire Matt McCoy ruled that Devin Lohman didn't touch the base on what would have been a two-out double to left field.

 

Pensacola got on the board first in the second inning when Tucker Barnhart scored from first on an RBI double from Lohman. The Smokies scored two runs in the fourth inning to go ahead 2-1 and had the Wahoos playing catch up the rest of the way. Ty Wright came home for the first run when Rubi Silva reached on an error by Lohman at short stop. Rafael Lopez brought home the second run with an RBI single later in the inning.

 

The Smokies delivered a big blow in the sixth. With Jae-Hoon Ha aboard, Silva launched his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to make it a 4-1 Smokies lead.

 

Theo Bowe singled home Lohman in the seventh inning to chip away at the deficit. It was the first run batted in for Bowe on the season. Ryan LaMarre nearly tied the game, but his long fly ball to right-center field was flagged down on the warning track by Ha at full sprint to end the inning.

 

The Blue Wahoos answered a Smokies seventh-inning run when Brodie Greene singled home Steve Selsky to pull Pensacola back within two, but that was as close as Pensacola would get.

 

Daniel Renken (L, 1-2) took the loss after getting charged with two earned runs, four total, on six hits over 5.2 innings. He walked a season-high four batters and struck out two.

 

Alberto Cabrera (W, 3-1) earned the win for the Smokies with six strong innings. The Wahoos got to the Tennessee starter for one run on three hits. He walked three and fanned six. Trey McNutt (S, 2) worked the final four outs to pick up the save.

 

Pensacola and Tennessee continue the series at Smokies Park on Saturday night. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Daniel Renken (1-1, 3.57 ERA) to the mound against Smokies LHP Eric Jokisch (3-0, 1.11 ERA). First pitch is slated for 5:15 p.m. CT.