Smokies Go Deep to Down Mobile, 5-4
MOBILE, Ala. - Tennessee scored five unanswered runs from the fifth through seventh innings, catapulted by a solo shot from 3B Jeimer Candelario and a two-run clout by CF Jacob Hannemann, as the Smokies kick started their ten-game, 11-day road trip with a 5-4 victory over the Mobile BayBears on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.
With the victory, Tennessee snapped their two game skid and improved to 7-9 on the season. With the loss, the BayBears dipped below .500 through 15 games and currently sit at 7-8 on the year.
Trailing 1-0, Tennessee evened the contest in the fifth. LF Mark Zagunis (1-3, R, 2B, BB, SO) started the frame with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a ground out. SS Carlos Penalver (1-4, RBI, BB, SO) came through with the tying blow, as he uncorked a base-hit into left. Zagunis scored on the 21-year old's single to knot the game up at one.
The Smokies would grab the lead for good in the sixth. With one away, Candelario (1-3, R, HR, RBI, 2 BB, SO) whalloped a 1-1 offering from former Tennessee Volunteer RHP Zack Godley (6.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB) over the wall in right-center for a solo blast. The long ball, Candelario's first of the season, put the Smokies ahead, 2-1.
Tennessee, however, was not done in the frame. On the very next pitch, RF Billy McKinney (2-5, R) slapped a single into right and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After C Victor Caratini (1-4, BB, SO) singled and was picked off, Zagunis drew a free pass to bring up 1B Taylor Davis (3-5, 2B, RBI). The former Morehead State standout bounced a grounder up the middle that would deflect off the second base bag and into shallow center. McKinney scooted around to score from second to put the Smokies up, 3-1. The inning would come to a close though, as Davis was thrown out trying to advance to second on the base-hit.
In the seventh, Hannemann (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI) used gopher ball to stretch the Smokies advantage. Following a one-out, pinch-hit double by Bijan Rademacher (1-1, R, 2B), the 24-year old whacked a 1-0 pitch from Godley to deep right for a two-run homer. The blast, Hannemann's second of the season, pushed the Smokies lead to 5-1.
Mobile would scratch their way back into the game, but could not draw even again. The BayBears added a run in the seventh on a RBI single by SS Ildemaro Vargas (3-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) and two more in the eighth on a passed ball and a run-scoring double by C Ronnie Freeman (1-4, 2B, RBI) to cut the deficit to 5-4.
In the ninth, with RHP Michael Jensen (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) on to try and close out the game, the BayBears put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. After back-to-back singles started the frame, the right-hander struck out the final three batters of the game swinging to finish off the win for Tennessee and tally his first save of the year.
Smokies' LHP Rob Zastryzny (6.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) recorded his third quality start in four outings, tossing six innings of one-run ball, en route to his second victory of the year. Godley (6.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB) did not strike out a batter over 6.1 innings and yielded ten hits in his second conseuctive defeat.
Davis (3-5, 2B, RBI) led the Smokies with a team-high three hits and a RBI. Hannemann (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI), McKinney (2-5, R) and 2B Chesny Young (2-4, 2B, BB) all collected multi-hit games in the triumph. Vargas (3-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) racked up three knocks and reached base four times in Mobile's loss. 3B Kevin Medrano (2-3, BB, SO) and LF Mitch Haniger (2-4, BB) also had multi-hit efforts for the BayBears.
The Smokies will try to continue their winning ways tomorrow night, as they are expected to send RHP Paul Blackburn (2-0, 0.50 ERA) to the bump. Mobile's Opening Night starter, LHP Anthony Banda (0-1, 3.95 ERA), is projected to take the ball for the BayBears.
The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 7:50 p.m. ET, leading up to the 8:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Hank Aaron Stadium. Saturday night's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps.
Following a ten-game, 11-day roap trip, the Smokies will return home to battle the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, on Wednesday, May 4. The contest will be the first Smoky Mountain Popcorn All-You-Can-Eat Wednedsay of the season. Fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, baked beans, potato chips, ice cream sandwiches and Pepsi products for less than $25 apiece. Wednesday's matchup will also be the Smokies' annual Peanut Free Night contest presented by the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET.
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.