Biloxi downs Tennessee with late runs

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies lost 3-2 to the Biloxi Shuckers at Smokies Stadium on Friday. Biloxi scored a run in the eighth inning and a run in the ninth inning to take the third game of the series. 
Zack Short opened the scoring when he hit a solo home run to left center field in the bottom of the first inning, making it 1-0 Smokies. It was the fourteenth home run of the season for Short. Yasiel Balaguert doubled the Tennessee lead in the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot of his own, putting the Smokies in front 2-0. It was Balaguert's eighth home run this year. 
Biloxi got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, cutting the Tennessee lead to 2-1. A solo home run later in the frame tied the game at 2-2. An RBI-double in the ninth inning would lead to a 3-2 victory for the Shuckers. 
Michael Rucker made the start at pitcher for Tennessee. Rucker pitched 6.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit and one walk. He also struck out four batters in the start. Rucker was relieved by Zach Hedges to start the seventh inning. Hedges threw 2.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits. He added one strikeout. Jake Stinnett pitched the final 1.0 inning, allowing one run on three hits and a walk. 
Tennessee and Biloxi will meet for the fourth game of the series on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Keegan Thompson (4-1, 3.03 ERA) is expected to start on the mound for the Smokies and Thomas Jankins (9-7, 4.63 ERA) will start for the Shuckers. Thompson is coming off a win against Jackson, where he threw 5.0 innings of one-run baseball. Thompson is holding batters to a .196 batting average in home games this season. 
Written by Blake Von Hagen, Broadcast Assistant for the Tennessee Smokies
The full schedule for this season and information regarding single-game tickets, season tickets, and mini plans can be found online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.
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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