Braves Rally To Best Smokies, 5-3

SEVIERVILLE - The Braves would score first, but have to comeback from a two-run deficit and topple the Smokies 5-3 behind two RBI from LF Dustin Peterson (2-4, R, 2 RBI, BB) and PH Levi Hyams (1-1, 2 RBI).

RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (6.0 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) and LHP Jed Bradley (5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) would both take the mound for Thursday night's contest, but neither starter would be factored into the decision. With Mississippi's win, that puts them at 15-12 in the second half and 49-47 overall and with the loss moves Tennessee to 11-15 in the second half and 39-57 overall.

RF Joey Meneses (2-3, R) would lead off the second inning with a double and advance to third on an error from a throw from LF Ian Happ (1-3, R, BB) to 3B Gioskar Amaya (3-4, SO). The next batter up would be 3B Johan Camargo (1-3, RBI, SO) and struck a long fly to right field where RF Bijan Rademacher (1-4) made a great running basket catch, but Meneses would score easily from third.

1B David Freitas (2-4, 2 R, RBI) led off the bottom of the second frame with a single in between the third baseman and shortstop and Amaya would follow with a single of his own. Rademacher followed suit with a single to load the bases. C Ben Carhart (1-2, 2 RBI) then hit a fly ball to right field to score Freitas, and even the game up at 1-1. 

Meneses would single in the sixth inning that was followed by a single by C Willians Astudillo (1-4) to put runners on the corner with two outs. Camargo would be the next batter up and on a full count, Tseng would get a strikeout and end the frame with no damage done. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Happ would walk to start the frame and Freitas followed with a double down the left field line to score Happ and give the Smokies the lead at 2-1. Carhart would follow with a two-out double to score Freitas and make the score 3-1. RHP Akeel Morris (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, SO) would come in to pitch for the Braves in the sixth and eventually earn the win. 

RHP David Berg (0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, SO) came in to pitch in the seventh inning and the Braves would immediately threaten. Late inning replacement RF Stephen Gaylor (0-1, R, BB) walked to start the inning, followed by a single by CFConnor Lien (2-5, R, SO). SS Dansby Swanson (1-4, R, BB, SO) would then single to load the bases. Peterson followed Swanson with a double down the right field line to score Gaylor and Lien, and tied the game 3-3. Hyams came in to pinch hit for the pitcher and singled to center to score Swanson and Peterson, and give the Braves a 5-3 lead. RHP Nick Sarianides (2.1 IP, 3 SO) would come in for relief to get the last out in the seventh inning and pitch into the ninth.

RHP David Peterson (2.0 IP, H) came in to pitch for the Braves in the seventh inning and retired the Smokies in order. Peterson was back out for the eighth inning and RHP Madison Younginer (1.0 IP, H, SO) came in to pitch in the ninth. PHKelly Dugan (1-1) came in to pinch hit in the ninth and singled to lead off the inning. That's all the Smokies would get as Dugan would be stranded at second to end the game. 

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Riverwalk Stadium. Monday afternoon's broadcast can be heard exclusively on SmokiesBaseball.com and via the TuneInRadio and MiLB First Pitch apps.

It will be Ghostbusters Night at Smokies Stadium. There will be special music, on-field games and videoboard graphics as a part of the festivities. Friday's contest will also be Daddy-Daughter Date Night in Sevierville. For less than $60, a ticket package includes two tickets, two meal vouchers, one 16-ounce tervis tumbler for dad and one foam claw and Smokies baseball seam bracelet for daughter. With a purchase of the package, one daddy and daughter will have the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the contest. Like all Friday affairs, following the final out there will be a tremendous Postgame Fireworks show presented by Pepsi, Coors Light, WIVK, WVLT and the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Single-game tickets, as well as multi-voucher and season ticket packages are still available, and can be purchased online atsmokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

The Tennessee Smokies Charity of Choice for the 2016 season is Alzheimer's Tennessee. Alzheimer's Tennessee's mission is to serve those facing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, to promote brain health through education, and to champion global prevention and treatment efforts. For more information on how to join the Tennessee Smokies in helping Alzheimer's Tennessee achieve their mission, please visit http://www.alztennessee.org/smokies/.

 

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.