Six-Run Fourth Not Enough in Birmingham in 7-6 Loss

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Tennessee Smokies (43-56, 10-20) dropped their third game in four tries against the Birmingham Barons (44-52, 17-10) on Sunday evening at Regions Field in a 7-6 loss. Damek Tomscha drove in four runs, including the winning run in the ninth to end the series.
Both sides went scoreless in the first two innings, and the Barons then grabbed a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch in the third.
The fourth inning saw nine runs cross home plate, including six from Tennessee. A Charcer Burks double tied the game at one. Two batters later, Christian Donahue socked a ground rule double to right-center to plate Burks and Jared Young. A groundball single from Roberto Caro then extended the Smokies' lead to 5-1. Nico Hoerner capped of the frame with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the inning, the Barons responded with a pair of long balls. Damek Tomscha struck first in solo fashion, and Alfredo González made it 6-4 with a two-run tater. One frame later, Birmingham tied the game thanks to a two-run double from Tomscha.
Both starters were chased after less than ideal starts. LHP Tanner Banks surrendered six earned runs, all in the fourth, over his 3.1 innings. RHP Alex Leal also gave up six runs in 4.2 innings of work.
Neither team plated a run until the bottom of the ninth when Tomscha collected his fourth hit and fourth RBI of the night, plating Ramón Torres to end the game in walk-off fashion. LHP Wyatt Short (L, 4-2) took the loss for the Smokies, while RHP Vince Arobio (W, 2-0) picked up the win with his scoreless top of the ninth.
The Smokies are back at Smokies Stadium on Monday night for Dollar Dog Monday presented by M3 Technology Group. RHP Cory Abbott (5-6, 3.87) toes the rubber for Tennessee against Montgomery's LHP Josh Fleming (8-4, 3.75) with first pitch set for 7:00 PM ET.