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Smokies Drop Series Opener as Comeback Bid Comes Up Short

Hill & Payne both hit two-run home runs in loss
June 8, 2021

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (10-19) fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas (14-16) 8-7 Tuesday night in the series opener at Smokies Stadium. The Smokies trailed by three runs entering the ninth inning before a Darius Hill home run pulled them within one, a Chase Strumpf strikeout ended

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (10-19) fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas (14-16) 8-7 Tuesday night in the series opener at Smokies Stadium. The Smokies trailed by three runs entering the ninth inning before a Darius Hill home run pulled them within one, a Chase Strumpf strikeout ended the comeback bid.

The Smokies took an early lead in the first inning when Hill scored on Levi Jordan’s RBI double.

Rocket City jumped on Smokies’ pitchers Javier Assad and Mateo Bocchi scoring five runs in the second through fourth innings as Gavin Cecchini and Matt Jones both homered.

The Smokies loaded the bases in the fourth inning with walks from Strumpf, Christopher Morel, and Brennen Davis. The Smokies would cut Rocket City’s lead to 5-3 after Grayson Byrd’s RBI groundout and Nelson Maldonado’s RBI single.

The Trash Pandas would distance themselves again in the eighth inning with a Dalton Pompey two-run home run. The Smokies did not go away though, in the bottom half, Tyler Payne hit a two-run blast.

Izzy Wilson’s double in the ninth added an important insurance run for the Trash Pandas. RHP Keith Rogalla would retire the first two Smokies in the ninth before a furious late comeback bid.

Connor Myers doubled and a Hill two-run home run pulled the Smokies within one. Jordan walked to bring Strumpf, the winning run to the plate. The UCLA alum turned on the first pitch, sending it over the left field wall but just foul. Rogalla would strike out Strumpf to end the Smokies comeback effort.

The Smokies and Trash Pandas continue their series at Smokies Stadium on Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7 PM. LHP Luis Lugo (0-3, 9.19) will face off against RHP Denny Brady (0-1, 3.52). Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.

Wednesday night at Smokies Stadium is All You Can Eat Wednesday presented by M3 Technology. Tickets for the entire 12-game homestand are available and can be purchased online, over the phone, or by visiting the box office.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES

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