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Tennessee Smokies

Smokies Fall in Hole Early, Can't Climb out in 10-5 Loss to Generals

May 31, 2016 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE - The Smokies found themselves down 7-0 to the Generals after four innings and could not warrant a comeback as they fell to Jackson by the count of 10-5 on Tuesday night. Smokies' RF Billy McKinney hit his first home run of the season while CF Jacob Hannemann was also a bright spot in the lineup going 3-for-5 while picking up an RBI for Tennessee.

With the loss on Tuesday night the Smokies now sit at 23-28 on the year while Jackson improved to the Southern League's best mark of 33-18.

The Generals' offense wasted no time to get going as they jumped ahead to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. SS Benji Gonzalez (3-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB) drew a one out walk before RF Tyler O'Neill (4-5, 2 RBI, R) reached on a fielding error by SS Carlos Penalver (0-4, SO). LF Leon Landry (2-4, 2 RBI, R) then sent a single up the middle to drive in Gonzalez. 1B D.J. Peterson (1-5, RBI, SO) followed that up with a two out single to center driving in Landry.

Jackson made it a 3-0 contest in the third thanks to CF Guillermo Heredia (2-5, 2 RBI, 3 R) sending a blast over the left field wall to lead off the frame. Following the third inning, the Smokies turned to RHP Starling Peralta in relief of RHP Stephen Perakslis (3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, SO, HR).

The Generals kept the runs coming in the fourth as they erupted for four runs giving them a 7-0 advantage over the Smokies. Perlta (0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, HR) began the inning by walking three consecutive batters before Heredia drove home C Marcus Littlewood (0-3, R, 2 BB, SO) with a ground out to third. Gonzalez then stepped to the dish and sent a shot over the left field wall for a three-run home run handing Jackson a seven run lead.

The Smokies gave the ball to RHP Jose Rosario (2.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 3 SO) to get out of the fourth and he was able to do so in getting back-to-back pop outs. Rosario retired the Generals in order in the fifth as well.

The Smokies were able to get on the board in the fifth as the home runs kept flying at Smokies Stadium, this time a lead off long ball from McKinney (2-4, RBI, R, HR) for what was his first homer of the season. Hannemann (3-5, RBI, SO) later stepped to the plate with two outs with 1B Bijan Rademacher (1-4, R, SO) on second and DH Stephen Bruno (2-4, 2 RBI, R, SO) on first. Hannemann sent a ground ball to Gonzalez who made a good stop but then threw it to first base where there was no one covering the bag allowing Rademacher to score and make it a 7-2 contest.

Jackson managed to answer right back their very next time up in the sixth frame as they connected for three straight singles off of Rosario which was capped off with an O'Neill base knock that drove in Heredia to give the Generals an 8-2 advantage.

Tennessee turned to RHP Josh Conway (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB) to start the seventh inning. He was able to get out of the inning despite walking Littlewood with one out, but the Generals were able to get on the board again in the eighth.

Gonzalez hit a one out single to center and was immediately driven in on a double from O'Neill into the gap. O'Neill was able to move to third off of a wild pitch from Conway before he was driven in from a sacrifice fly from Landry making it a 10-2 contest in favor of Jackson.

RHP Andrew Moore pitched a full seven innings for the Generals. Moore (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, ER, 5 SO, HR) retired the side in the second, third and fourth inning and did not find himself in much trouble other than the fifth when the Smokies were able to get two across the plate.

The Generals gave the mound to RHP Ryne Harper (2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 SO) to begin the eighth. Hannemann led off the frame with a single to left and then stole second with 2B Chesny Young (1-5, 4 SO) at the dish. Harper settled in after the single and stolen bag as he struck out Young before retiring LF Mark Zagunis (0-4) and 3B Jeimer Candelario (0-4).

Tennessee managed to cut the Jackson lead in half in the bottom of the ninth which began with a McKinney infield single. C Victor Caratini (1-4, R) followed that up by smoking a line drive to center for a ground-rule double to put two runners in scoring position. Bruno kept the hits coming with a double down the left field line driving in both McKinney and Caratini. Bruno later scored thanks to Hannemann singling up the middle to make it a 10-5 Jackson lead.

The Smokies and Generals will battle Wednesday night in the second game of the five-game series at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tennessee will turn to RHP Duane Underwood, Jr. (0-1, 5.19 ERA) while Jackson will give the mound to RHP Brett Ash (6-1, 3.75 ERA).

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET leading up to the first pitch from Smokies Stadium at 7:05 p.m. ET. Wednesday night's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps. The game can also be seen on MiLB.tv.

Wednesday will be a Game of Life Night presented by Amica Insurance. In honor of the popular board game there will be special on-field games, music and videoboard graphics throughout the contest. Like all Wednesday affairs, it will also be a Smoky Mountain Popcorn All-You-Can-Eat Wednesday. Fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, baked beans, potato chips, ice cream sandwiches and Pepsi products for less than $25 apiece

Tickets for all five games of Tennessee's contests are still available, and can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from May 31, 2016


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