NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Tennessee Smokies

Williams Spins Another Gem as Smokies Win Sixth Straight 9-1

August 31, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE - Tennessee starting pitcher Ryan Williams fired six shutout innings to earn his fifth victory in the month of August, and 14th overall this year, while shortstop Ryan Dent and center fielder Albert Almora Jr. continued their hot streaks with two hits each and right fielder Bijan Rademacher drove in four RBI as the Smokies earned their sixth straight victory with a 9-1 triumph over the Jacksonville Suns on Monday evening at Smokies Stadium.

The sixth consecutive win improved Tennessee's second half record to 34-30, while also raising their overall mark to 13 games above .500 at 73-60. The Suns, meanwhile, dropped to 24-38 since the midpoint of the year, also falling to 53-80 overall in 2015. The six-game winning stretch matches the Smokies' longest of the season after tallying six straight wins between June 19-28.

Williams (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) scattered four hits over his six innings of work, allowing a runner past first base just once. It was the fifth victory and fifth quality start over the California native's six outings in the month of August, completing that span with a 5-0 record and 2.02 ERA (8 ER in 35.2 IP). Smokies relievers Juan Paniagua (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, BB) and Gerardo Concepcion (1.0 IP, H, BB) joined forces for the final three frames, while Suns starter Matt Tomshaw suffered the defeat to fall to 5-10 on the year.

The 23-year-old continued his outstanding sophomore season in professional baseball, earning his Cubs organization-leading 14th victory between Tennessee and Low-A South Bend this year, including his tenth with the Smokies. The right-hander also paces all Cubs farmhands in earned-run average (2.18) as he continues to make his case for the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Tennessee got on the board quickly in support of Williams, plating a run in the initial frame. Almora Jr. reached base and sprinted all the way around to third on an error, before coming across on an error when Dent got on with a single to push the Smokies ahead 1-0.

Following three quiet frames, Tennessee would make more noise with a two-run fourth. CF Jacob Hannemann reached base on a walk, before coming all the way home from first when Almora Jr. tripled to right field, doubling the lead to 2-0. Almora Jr. would subsequently score via Dent's run-scoring base knock to left, extending the advantage to three.

The margin would grow even further with four more scores in the sixth. 1B Dan Vogelbach began the big inning with a single to center before taking second on a walk, while 2B Stephen Bruno was hit by a pitch to send up Rademacher, who cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line to double the three-run margin to 6-0. Rademacher would later be brought home via pinch hitter Wes Darvill's sacrifice fly to center to cap the four-run frame and increase the cushion to seven.

The Smokies would score two more tallies to increase their advantage to nine one frame later. Dent was hit by a pitch to begin the seventh and Vogelbach singled to right, before both moved 90 feet on an error prior to an intentional walk to Candelario filled the bases for Bruno, who slapped a single to center to send in Dent. Rademacher would later record his fourth RBI of the evening with a sacrifice fly to center to cap the Smokies' scoring.

The shutout hopes would be stifled in the very next frame, however, with Jacksonville breaking through with a run in the eighth. SS Elliot Soto led off with a single and then took second on an error, prior to coming home when pinch hitter Danny Black crushed an RBI two-bagger to left, narrowing the Suns' deficit to eight.

Dent (2-2, R, RBI, BB), Almora Jr. (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB), C Willson Contreras (2-5) and Vogelbach (2-5, 2 R) all tallied two base hits each to pace the Tennessee offense, while 1B Ryan Rieger (2-3, BB) was the lone Jacksonille hitter to post a multi-hit effort. With his two hits in two at bats, Dent has now collected a base knock in nine of his last ten at bats over a three-game span, raising his batting average 31 points to .256.

Almora Jr. also extended his hit streak to 12 games with his pair of hits, tallying a .375 average (18-48), along with seven runs, thre doubles, one triple, one homer and eight RBI in that span. Almora Jr. also concluded his outstanding month of August by posting at least one hit in all but of his 31 contests, compiling a .352 average (44-125) with 22 runs, 14 doubles, one triple, one home and 15 RBI. The Smokies offense as a whole was also strong this month, capping their torrid August with a .292 clip (303-1036), averaging 10.1 hits per contest, this past month in 31 contests.

Williams' outing also continued the trend of strong starting pitching, marking the seventh consecutive quality start for the club's rotation. Over that span, Tennessee starters have accumulated a 5-0 record and 0.78 ERA (4 ER in 46.0 IP) in that time period, and yielded exactly one earned run or fewer in each of those outings.

Tennessee next is slated to finish their 2015 home slate with Fan Appreciation Night on Tuesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a free hot dog, bag of chips and drink, while there will also be a pre-game player autograph session and all guests in attendance will receive a special surprise thanks to the Smokies and their partners. LHP Jeffry Antigua (5-4, 4.50) is expected to toe the rubber for the Smokiesin the series finale as the club goes for the sweep, with Jacksonville set to counter with RHP Austin Brice (5-9, 4.86).

Tickets for that game are still available and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

Check out the Tennessee Smokies Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...

Southern League Stories from August 31, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central