Smokies Make It Three in a Row

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Tennessee Smokies (4-1) picked up their third straight win with a 7-3 victory against the Birmingham Barons (2-4) on Wednesday night. This hot five game start to the season is their best since 2012. 
The Smokies got the scoring started in the second inning with a P.J. Higgins' single which brought in Charcer Burks to put the Smokies up 1-0. Higgins kept the offense going, with a three-run home run to left-center field building the lead to 4-0.
In the seventh inning the Birmingham Barons would respond. Yermin Mercedes got the Barons on the board with a solo home run cutting the deficit to 4-1. Two more runs would score after a Mitch Roman triple to make it a one run game. 
In the eighth inning an error from Barons pitcher Danny Dopico allowed two more runs to score, and Jared Young added another run with a single to centerfield giving the Smokies the eventual game winning 7-3 lead. 
On the mound for the Smokies, RHP Tyson Miller (W, 1-0) picked up his first win while tossing five innings and giving up one hit, one walk, and striking out six batters. 
As for Birmingham, LHP Tanner Banks (L, 0-2) got the start and his second loss of the season. Banks pitched six innings where he surrendered four runs and two walks, while striking out three. 
On the hunt for their fourth straight win, game two of the five game series is set to start at 8:05 pm ET Thursday night. RHP Thomas Hatch gets his second start of the season, while RHP Jimmy Lambert gets the start for Birmingham.