Hedges Pitches a Gem to Avoid Sweep

SEVIERVILLE - Zach Hedges would give the Smokies a stellar outing, pitching seven complete innings without a run in route to a 7-0 win.

RHP Zach Hedges (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 SO) would take the mound for the Smokies, eventually getting the win, for his third start in Double-A, in an attempt to avoid the sweep, and Hedges would be opposed by RHP Yonny Chirinos (4.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 SO, HR) for the Biscuits. The win for the Smokies moves them to 19-25 in the second half and 47-67 while snapping a four-game losing streak, and the loss for the Biscuits moves them to 25-20 in the second half and 59-56 overall. 

In the bottom of the second inning, LF Kelly Dugan (3-4, R, 2B, SO) would double with an out in the inning and after a groundout, 2B Daniel Lockhart (2-4, RBI, SO) would single to right field and on a close play at home, Dugan would score to strike first and give the Smokies a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, C Victor Caratini (3-5, 2 R, 2B, SO) would double and advance to third on a fly ball, but it wouldn't matter because 3B Jason Vosler (1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, SO) would send his first Double-A home run over the fence to give the Smokies a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom the fifth, Caratini would reach again on a single followed by the same from 1B David Freitas (1-4, R, BB) and Caratini would move to third. That base running aggressiveness proved costly as Vosler would hit a deep sac fly to score Caratini and make it 4-0. After a single from Dugan, SS Carlos Penalver (2-4, RBI, SO) would single to score Freitas and put the Smokies up 5-0. That's when RHP Hunter Wood (3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO, HR) would enter for the Biscuits in relief, and Wood would get the last out in the frame.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, CF Trey Martin (2-5, R) would single to start the inning and DH Ian Happ (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI) would destroy a ball to right field and send it way over the fence to give the Smokies a 7-0 lead.

RHP David Garner (1.0 IP, SO) would replace Hedges in the eighth inning after a stellar outing in his fourth start at the Double-A level, and RHP Nick Sarianides (1.0 IP, 2 H) would enter to throw the ninth inning for the Smokies. 

The Smokies travel for a road trip south to Pensacola to face off against the South Division first half champs, in the Blue Wahoos for a five game series. Tennessee will return home on August 17 for a five game series against the Jacksonville Suns.

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 7:15 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:30 p.m. ET first pitch from Pensacola. Thursday evening's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as SmokiesBaseball.com and via the TuneInRadio and MiLB First Pitch apps. The contest can also be viewed on MiLB.tv.

When the Smokies return home on August 17, Smoky Mountain Popcorn presents All You Can Eat Wednesday's where fans can get all you can eat hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, baked beans, potato chips, ice cream sandwiches, and Pepsi Products for $22 for adults and for children 12 and under, it is $20.

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 SMOKIESThe 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.