SEVIERVILLE - Tennessee swept its doubleheader with Mississippi in games two and three of the series on Saturday. The Smokies dominance on the mound proved monumental in both games. The Smokies hosted Star Wars Night presented by Regal Entertainment Group on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,460 fans. It was
SEVIERVILLE - Tennessee swept its doubleheader with Mississippi in games two and three of the series on Saturday. The Smokies dominance on the mound proved monumental in both games. The Smokies hosted Star Wars Night presented by Regal Entertainment Group on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,460 fans.
It was all pitching to start the first game, as both teams combined for just four hits after five innings of play. Duncan Robinson dealt nine strikeouts and gave up just three hits until the Braves finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Tyler Neslony drove in the first run of the ballgame with a single to right field to bring in Alay Lago, giving Mississippi a 1-0 lead. A sliding catch from Eddy Martinez in right field stopped the bleeding for the Smokies in the sixth inning.
It didn't take long for Tennessee to answer, as a fielding error brought in Zack Short from second base to tie the game at 1-1. Following the run, the Braves pulled Bryse Wilson from the game, as he had an impressive outing with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.
Yet another fielding error put a man on first and second base for Tennessee with two outs left in the sixth inning, but Ian Rice struck out to end the inning. Things remained quiet until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Smokies had a chance to win in walk-off fashion but came up short.
Mississippi struck first in extra innings on an RBI bunt from Luis Valenzuela, but Tennessee knotted it up with an RBI double from Jason Vosler in the bottom of the eighth inning. A wild throw to third base brought in a run for the Braves to start the ninth inning and give them a 3-2 lead. The Smokies once again had a chance to even the game up in the bottom of the ninth, but this time they finished the game. A wild throw tied the game up at three runs apiece, and Charcer Burks drew a walk-off walk for a 4-3 Tennessee win.
The Smokies jumped right into the action in game two of the doubleheader, as a solo homerun from Jeffery Baez put Tennessee up 1-0 in the second inning. Just one inning later, Yasiel Balaguert tallied his ninth RBI of the season with a single to right field to give the Smokies a 3-0 lead.
Braves starter Touki Toussaint left the game after nearly three innings of work after giving up three runs and recording four strikeouts. Tennessee finally rung up another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Jesse Hodges ripped an RBI double to bring in Baez. The Smokies kept the 4-0 lead until the end of the game, as they swept the doubleheader and took a 2-1 series lead.
Thomas Hatch tossed a full seven inning game after giving up just three hits and registering seven strikeouts in the win. Robinson and Hatch combined for 13 innings pitched and 16 strikeouts on the day.
The Smokies and Mississippi get back to it Sunday at 2:00 p.m. as Tennessee will send Oscar De La Cruz to the mound, as the Braves will put Andres Santiago to the bump. Sunday will be a Ben Zobrist Bobblehead Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans presented by Pepsi. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.
The full schedule for this season and information regarding single-game tickets, season tickets, and mini plans can be found online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES
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
