Smokies Fall 11-1 To Barons In Front Of Record Setting Crowd

SEVIERVILLE - The Smokies welcomed 7,902 fans through the gates of America's Friendliest Ballpark on Saturday night setting a new Smokies Stadium attendance record in their contest against the Barons. The previous mark was set on July 24 of last year as 7,866 fans visited the stadium.

The Smokies were unable to deliver in front of the record setting crowd however as the Barons won the opening game of the five-game series by a count of 11-1. DH Kelly Dugan drove home the lone Smokies' tally.

With the loss, the Smokies now sit at 16-20 on the year while the Barons improved to that identical mark with the win.

The Barons got off to a blistering start to jump ahead early on the Smokies. SS Eddy Alvarez (0-4, 2 R, BB) led off by reaching first on a fielding error by 2B Chesny Young (0-3, BB). LF Jake Peter (1-4, 2B, R BB, 2 SO) then drew a walk that was followed by a double off the bat of DH Eudy Pina (2-5, 2 2B, RBI 2 R, 2 SO) scoring Alvarez from second. Two batters later, 3B Trey Michalczewski (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R, SO) smoked a line drive to right that scored both Peter and Pina to give the Barons a 3-0 advantage.

Birmingham then added to their lead their next time up in the second inning. CF Keenyn Walker (0-3, R, 2 BB) drew a walk with one out then moved to second after a wild pitch was thrown by LHP Rob Zastryzny. Alvarez drew the Barons' second walk in as many innings to put two on for the Barons. Then, with two Barons retired, they put on the double steal with Pina at the plate and drew C David Freitas (0-4, 2 SO, 2 BB) to throw to third in an effort to catch Walker, but his throw carried all the way to left field allowing both Walker and Alvarez to score giving the Barons a 5-0 lead in the second frame.

After allowing five runs, none earned, in the first two innings, Zastryzny (6.0 IP, 5 R, O ER, 4 BB, 7 SO) settled in nicely by retiring the side in both the third and sixth innings while allowing just one hit in his last three innings of work.

"He pitched well as he progressed," Smokies' head coach Mark Johnson said. "His command wasn't great with his offspeed pitches and pulled his fastballs more times than not on his extension side. As the game kept going he got more comfortable and was able to throw some more offspeed strikes."

The Smokies cut into the Birmingham lead in the home half of the fourth inning. With two outs, 1B Victor Caratini (1-4, R, SO) drove a ball to right for a double then was driven home immediately thanks to Dugan (1-4, RBI, 2 SO) connecting for a double of his own to right field making it a 5-1 ballgame. The RBI was Dugan's 16th in only 14 games played with the Smokies.

"He is up there to hit and hit the ball hard," Johnson said. "It's a lot of fun to watch a guy like that hit. He is all or nothing up there at the plate and there to square the ball up.

RHP Michael Jensen (2.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR) took over for the Smokies in the top of the seventh. The 25-year-old got out of the inning after surrendering a two-out double to Peter, but then began the eighth by feeding 1B Nicky Delmonico (2-5, HR, RBI, R) a pitch that the Knoxville, Tenn. native sent over the right field wall to extend the Barons' lead to 6-1. After RF Courtney Hawkins (1-4, 2 R, BB, 3 SO) singled up the middle and Michalczewski drew a walk, Jensen surrendered another home run, this one a three-run shot from 2B Joey DeMichele (1-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB) giving the Barons a 9-1 advantage.

Jensen and the Smokies fond themselves in another jam in the top of the ninth inning. After striking out Peter to begin the frame, Pina connected for a double to left then advanced to third after Delmonico grounded out. Jensen then walked Hawkins before his night was done.

RHP Josh Conway (0.1 IP, 3 BB) came in to escape the situation but walked Michalczewski then walked home a run on a five-pitch walk given to DeMichele to make it a 10-1 advantage for Birmingham. The bleeding didn't stop there as Conway walked C Jeremy Dowdy (0-4, RBI, BB) to give the Barons another free run as Hawkins scored to make it an 11-1 contest.

Barons' RHP Tyler Danish went a full eight innings for the Barons in what was a strong performance by the 21-year-old. Danish (8.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) kept the Smokies on their toes all night as they could not get the bats going. Danish retired the side three different times; in the second, fifth and seventh innings.

RHP Robinson Leyer (1.0 IP, H, 2 SO) came on to relieve Danish to start the ninth. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native gave up a single to RF Billy McKinney (1-4, SO), but then made quick order of the Smokies with a ground out by Caratini and back-to-back strikeouts handed to Dugan and Freitas.

The Smokies and Barons will battle again on Sunday afternoon with the first-pitch set for 2:05 p.m. ET. The Smokies will give the mound to RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (0-1, 3.86 ERA) - the top pitching prospect in the Cubs' system according to Baseball America. The Barons are expected to counter with LHP Jordan Guerrero (0-0, 4.64 ERA) who is the no. 11 White Sox prospect according to the same publication.

Sunday's contest will be a U.S. Cellular Family FUNday. Fans will able to take advantage of a special ticket package that includes four tickets, four meal vouchers and two Kids Zone wristbands for only $48 dollars.

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 1:55 p.m. ET, leading up to the 2:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Smokies Stadium. Sunday afternoon's broadcast can be heard exclusively online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps.

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