Christmas In July Gifts Smokies Two Wins In One Day

Written by Jake Woods

KODAK, Tenn.

Game 1 - The Smokies got the hot start they were looking for on Christmas (in July). With a 5-run second inning, Tennessee took a commanding lead over the Braves and never looked back, and won the game 5-4

Pablo Aliendo found his spot on Santa’s nice list first in the game with a 2 RBI single to center field that drove in Haydn McGeary from third and Bradlee Beesley from second. Andy Weber gifted Smokies fans with an incredible 3-run homerun that snuck over the right-center field wall to bring in Aliendo and Jordan Nwogu to make the score 5-0 after two.

Jesse Franklin V scored on a throwing error to first base to get the Braves on the board in the fourth. Mississippi also scored a run in the fifth when Tyler Tolve doubled and ran in Cal Conley. The Smokie still led 5-2.

Tightening the margin even further, Franklin V hit a solo HR in the sixth and Cody Milligan hit a sacrifice-fly and scored Landon Stephens to cut the Smokies' lead to only 1 after 6.

The final out of the game came on a strikeout thrown by reliever Dannis Correa to Braves Slugger Drew Lugbauer.

Final score: Smokies 5, Braves 4.

Game 2: A defensive battle made its way to Smokies Stadium in game two of the doubleheader, as the Smokies come back and win 3-1, taking a 5-0 series lead and winning 12 of their last 13 games

An aggressive approach by the Braves in the first inning paid off as they were able to get in a run and take a quick 1-0 lead, but nothing more.

There was nothing doing for either team through the next three innings, but in the bottom of the fourth Bradlee Beesley doubled and scored Scott McKeon to tie the game up at 1.

An ENORMOUS fly ball triple by McKeon that bounced off the left-center wall scored Casey Opitz to take a 1-run lead, and two wild pitches allowed McKeon and Beesley to score to give the Smokies a 4-1 lead after six.

The final out of the game came on a strikeout pitched by reliever Samuel Reyes to Cody Milligan.

Final Score: Smokies 4, Braves 1.

The Smokies look to complete the six-game sweep tomorrow.

The series continues tomorrow (7/23) - for Family Funday Sunday. On Sundays only, you can get 4 tickets, 4 meal vouchers, and 2 wristbands to Homer Hound's Playland for only $76! A value of $114! Additional tickets are only $19 each. Presented by YMCA of East Tennessee. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM

FOR TICKETS

Call (865) 286-2300 or visit smokiesbaseball.com

LISTEN to the Smokies radio network for live coverage: Listen Live to the Smokies

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES

The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the eight-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.