Smokies Shutout Trash Pandas to End Losing Streak

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (11-23) snapped their nine game losing streak with a 6-0 victory over the Rocket City Trash Pandas (18-17) at Smokies Stadium. RHP Javier Assad allowed just four hits in six scoreless innings Sunday afternoon, his longest outing of the season.

The Smokies and Trash Pandas were scoreless into the bottom of the seventh inning. After RHP Kieran Lovegrove (L, 2-1) walked the bases loaded, Erick Castillo hit a sacrifice fly to put the Smokies on the board. Reivaj Garcia followed with a two-run double, then scored on Darius Hill’s RBI single to extend the Smokies lead to 4-0.

Grayson Byrd led off the eighth with a single, and moved to third on Nelson Maldonado’s double. Byrd scored on D.J. Artis’s RBI groundout and Maldonado scored on Castillo’s RBI single to round out the scoring at 6-0.

LHP Ryan Lawlor (W, 2-0) came on in relief of Assad and struck out three over two scoreless innings for his second win. RHP Juan Gamez pitched a scoreless ninth in his first appearance back with the Smokies. Castillo and Garcia both finished with two hits and two RBI in the win.

The Smokies begin a six game series with the Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday night. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 7 PM. Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.

Tuesday night at Smokies Stadium is Taco Tuesday. Tickets for the remainder of the 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.