Susnara and Hill Homer in 6-4 Loss

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (25-35) fell to the Mississippi Braves (40-24), 6-4, Friday night at Smokies Stadium. The Braves led by four runs entering the eighth inning as the Smokies mustered a comeback that would come up short.

The Smokies opened the scoring in the third inning as Edwin Figuera singled up the middle and Tim Susnara homered to right field, his third of the season, giving Tennessee a 2-0 lead.

RHP Cam Sanders (L, 1-4) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but surrendered a pair of solo home runs to C.J. Alexander and Greyson Jenista, the second tied the game at two. Sanders struck out six over 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks.

The Braves took their first lead of the game in the sixth inning as Justin Dean tripled and scored on a wild pitch. Mississippi extended its lead by scoring three runs in the seventh inning. Hendrik Clementina’s solo home run opened the inning and a pair of Braves came home on a Christopher Morel throwing error, giving Mississippi a 6-2 lead.

Darius Hill, who subbed in to open the seventh inning, homered to right field in his first at-bat, in the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 6-3.

The Smokies put together a two out rally in the ninth. Levi Jordan singled, and moved to second on defensive indifference before scoring on Hill’s RBI single. Morel came up as the tying run, but struck out looking to end the game.

The Smokies and M-Braves continue their series Saturday night at Smokies Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7 PM. Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.

Saturday night at Smokies Stadium is Top Gun night. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a Top Gun t-shirt presented by Regal and Hampton Inn and Suites Sevierville. There will also be a post game fireworks show presented by Pepsi and Coors Light. Tickets for the remainder of the M-Braves series 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.