SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Long Ball Lifts Smokies Past Pensacola Wednesday Night

Published on August 1, 2012 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - Home runs by Nate Samson and Justin Bour led the Tennessee Smokies to a pair of victories over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Smokies Park Wednesday night. In the completion of yesterday's suspended game, Samson broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give Tennessee a 4-2 win. In the nightcap, Justin Bour hit a walk-off home run to give Tennessee a 1-0 victory. With the wins, the Smokies improve to 19-20 in the second half, 54-55 overall. Pensacola drops to 20-19, 54-54.

Pensacola gained an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Josh Fellhauer tripled and then scored on a base hit by Ryan LaMarre. The Smokies answered right back in the bottom half, Matt Szczur was hit by a Kyle Lotzkar pitch and Logan Watkins singled to put two runners on base. Back-to-back hits by Bour and Greg Rohan brought in two runs to give the Smokies a 2-1 edge. The game went into a rain delay in the bottom of the fourth inning with bases loaded and two outs.

When the game resumed, following another delay (one hour, 44 minutes) prior to first pitch, the Blue Wahoos tied the game in the top of the fifth when Billy Hamilton singled off reliever Trey McNutt, scoring David Vidal to knot the game, 2-2. After a walk to Junior Lake, Samson hit his second home run of the season to give Tennessee a 4-2 lead.

McNutt (6-8) picks up the win for the Smokies allowing just one run on two hits over his three innings in relief while Brian Pearl (1-2) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos. Kevin Rhoderick (S, 8) tossed two scoreless innings for Tennessee to secure the victory.

The day's regularly scheduled game, which was turning into a 7-inning contest due to the suspended game, was ruled by solid pitching. Both starting pitchers were able to keep their opposition off the scoreboard through five innings of play. Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler allowed only one hit while walking two and striking out two over his five innings of work, while his counterpart Daniel Corcino allowed three hits with four strikeouts in five innings.

Tennessee reliever Brian Schlitter (2-2) was just as dominant allowing only one hit and striking out one in two innings of relief.

With extra innings looming in the bottom of the seventh, Bour homered on the first pitch of the inning off Pensacola reliever Curtis Partch (4-4) to give the Smokies a 1-0 victory and increase their winning streak to four game.

The Smokies will look to go for the series sweep on Thursday night at 7:15 at Smokies Park. For tickets and more information visit www.smokiesbaseball.com or call 865-286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from August 1, 2012


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