Smokies Look To Snap Three Game Skid

After falling in walk-off fashion for the third straight evening, the Smokies look to snap their three-game skid as they face the Huntsville Stars tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET at Joe W. Davis Stadium.

It was another pitcher's duel that went into extra innings for the Stars and Smokies last night, but Huntsville would come up on top with a walk off hit in the 11th inning. Kris Bryant added his league leading 15th home run in the sixth inning, but that would be Tennessee's only run of the game as they would fall 2-1.

The Smokies are likely to send out Joe Gardner (0-0, 1.69 ERA) in hopes of salvaging at least one game in the series. Gardner made his debut with Tennessee on May 24 against Mobile, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing one run on two hits.

The Stars are anticipated to counter with RHP Jacob Barnes (1-2, 6.26) this evening. The right-hander earned the victory for Huntsville in his last start against Montgomery on May 24 after six innings allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out six.

Fans can listen to the broadcast on the Smokies Baseball Network, with the "Voice of the Smokies" Mick Gillispie and Greg Young. Gillispie and Young are assisted by Keith Brake, Meagan Wood, Sean Sullivan, Boomer Dangel, Andrew Clare and James Rowe. The Pilot/Oscar Meyer Pre-game Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. ET.

Below are more notes on Tennessee's contest this evening, direct from the club's Game Notes, compiling by Director of Media Relations Andrew Green. The entire game notes can be viewed by clicking here.

AND FOUR TO GO!: INF Kris Bryant recorded not just the second four-hit game of his professional career, but his second in the month of May...The 22-year-old previously collected four base knocks on May 3 at Chattanooga...The infielder also blasted his 15th homer of the year last night, which paces the Southern League and ranks tied for third among all Minor Leaguers behind only Double-A Trenton's Peter O'Brien (19) and High-A Myrtle Beach's Joey Gallo (18)...Bryant has also reached base in 12 of his last 14 plate appearances, including each of his last eight.

DEJA, DEJA, DEJA VU: The Smokies have lost in walk-off fashion in each of their last three games, marking the first time that has happened since the 2005 season...The Carolina Mudcats beat Tennessee on walk-off hits in three straight contests between August 5-7 at Five County Stadium...Just like the past three days, two of those scores in Carolina finished with the same final score, with the Mudcats topping Tennessee by a similar 3-2 margin on August 5 and August 7...Only one of those three games in 2005 went extra-innings...Future Major Leaguers Stephen Drew, Miguel Montero and Dan Uggla were among those playing for the Smokies at that time.

A GAME OF RUNS: After coming away victorious in ten of their first 13 games this month, the Smokies have lost ten of their last 13...Tennessee has scored a total of 41 runs in their last 13 contests after scoring a combined 106 in their first 13, including 43 during their four-game series in Jackson between May 10-13...In their last 13 games, Smokies batters have combined for a .232 average (101-436) after leading all Minor League and Major League clubs with a .317 mark (152-481) through the first 13 tilts of May...Factoring out INF Kris Bryant, Tennessee batters have recorded a .209 clip (82-392) in their 13 most recent meetings.

SMOKIE SIGNALS: Tennessee this season has recorded a 12-15 mark on the road this season, compared to a 14-11 home record...The club has also lost seven of their last eight road contests dating back to May 15...RHP Dae-Eun Rhee recorded his team-leading fourth quality start of the season, though he owns a 1-0 record in those four starts with three no-decisions...Tennessee has played in 19 one-run ballgames (8-11) this season, second to only the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (25, 9-14) in the Southern League...The club has not won a game this season when they are either tied or trailing in the seventh inning or later, compiling an 0-19 mark when tied or trailing after seven, and 0-22 when tied or trailing through eight...The Smokies enter tonight at a .500 record for the first time since April 30 (13-13).

ROSTER MOVES: The Cubs announced today that INF Stephen Bruno has been placed on the Disabled List with a strained left hamstring...In 41 games this season, the 23-year-old has recorded a .288 average (44-153), adding 15 doubles, three triples, three homers and 12 RBI...The 15 two-baggers rank Bruno tied for third in the Southern League...In a corresponding move, INF Elliot Soto has been activated off the Suspended List...The Illinois native has spent parts of the 2012 and 2013 campaigns with the Smokies, combining for a .209 average (69-330), along with 28 runs, two homers and 21 RBI in 127 contests for Tennessee...Soto split 2013 between Tennessee and High-A Daytona, totaling a .219 clip (56-256), adding two longballs and 16 RBI.

Tonight's broadcast will air on the Smokies' flagship station The Sports Animal 99.1 FM and 990 AM, plus online at www.smokiesbaseball.com, as well as via the Smokies' mobile app. Click the link below to listen live online.

Listen to the Smokies and Stars, May 29, 2014.