RICE HITS WALK-OFF HOME RUN TO BEAT BISCUITS

SEVIERVILLE, TN -  The Smokies defeated the Biscuits 6-5 on Sunday in the final game of the first half of the season. Ian Rice was the hero with his second walk off home run of the series, a three-run home run to left field.  
Matt Swarmer made his third Double-A start of the season on Sunday and after some early troubles, he settled down. Swarmer lasted four innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. 
Zach Hedges replaced Swarmer in the fifth for his fourth appearance of the home stand. Hedges had struggled in his previous two outings, but that was not the case on Sunday. Hedges pitched three innings, allowing no runs on one hit. 
Tennessee had its first scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth inning. Eddy Martinez singled and Trey Martin walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Tennessee couldn't cash in though, as a groundout and fly out ended the inning. 
Finally, in the bottom of the seventh, Tennessee broke through. Martinez walked to start the inning, his third time on base in the game, and Jesse Hodges delivered as the next batter with a two-run shot over the centerfield fence to tie the game at two. It was Hodges third home run of the season. 
Jake Stinnett replaced Hedges in the eighth in a tie game and could not hold the lead. Stinnett gave up three runs in his inning of work. 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Smokies tried to rally as Trent Giambrone hit his ninth home run of the season to make it 5-3. James Norwood pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give the Smokies a chance.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Smokies put the tying runs on after Charcer Burks and Jason Vosler singled. With two outs and two strikes, Rice delivered with his fourth home run of the season to give the Smokies the win. 
The Smokies will be back in action next Thursday, June 21, as they begin a series in Mobile. On Tuesday, four Smokies, Jason Vosler, Craig Brooks, Jeffrey Baez and Thomas Hatch, will represent the team at the Southern League All Star game in Birmingham.  
Written by Rob Harvey, Broadcast Assistant for the Tennessee Smokies
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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