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 Tennessee Smokies

McKinney and Happ Pick up a Combined Seven RBI in 12-1 Win over Pensacola

June 27, 2016 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE - Monday night's contest went only six innings as rain moved into the area, but the Smokies put together plenty of offense as they topped the Blue Wahoos 12-1.

With the win the Smokies took the series three games to two and improved to 3-2 in the second half and 31-44 on the year. Pensacola fell to 2-3 in the second half and 43-32 for the season.

2B Ian Happ (3-3, 3 RBI, 2 R) continued his blistering start at the Double-A level as he went 3-for-3 at the dish including a two-run home run; his second in three days. After his big night on Monday, Happ now has four straight multi-hit games and three straight three-hit games.

The Smokies jumped ahead right away in the first frame in which CF Jacob Hannemann (2-4, 2 R, SO) led off with a single. Happ moved Hannemann over to third with a one-out base knock before 1B Victor Caratini (2-4, 2 RBI, R, SO) drove Hannemann home with a line drive single to right giving Tennessee a 1-0 edge.

In the third inning 3B Chesny Young (2-3, 3 R, BB) connected for a one-out double bringing the red hot Happ to the dish and the 21-year-old hit a monster shot over the right field wall handing the Smokies a 3-0 lead.

RHP Brad Markey (6.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 SO) got off to a fast start on the mound for Tennessee as he did not allow a hit or surrender a walk through his first four innings. RF Sebastian Elizalde (1-3, R, SO) broke up Markey's perfect game with a lead off double in the fifth. Elizalde was then driven home thanks to a single from CF Brandon Dixon (1-2, RBI) making it a 3-1 game.

Markey improved to 6-3 on the season with the win on Monday.

The fifth inning was very kind to the Smokies as they erupted for four runs and pushed their lead to 7-1 over the Blue Wahoos and the rally was started with a lead off ground-rule double off of the bat of Markey.

After a one-out walk to Young, Pensacola turned to the bullpen as RHP Kyle McMyne (1.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, SO, BB) came on to replace RHP Barrett Astin (4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 SO, 3 BB, HR) who was ultimately handed the loss on Monday night. Happ loaded the bases for the Smokies with an infield single that was followed by a bases clearing triple from RF Billy McKinney (2-4, 4 RBI, 2 R, SO, BB). McKinney was immediately driven home thanks to a single from C Ben Carhart (1-3, RBI).

The Smokies' offensive onslaught continued into the sixth frame as they one-upped their four-run fifth and scored five in the sixth inning.

PH Bijan Rademacher (1-2, R) led off the inning with a base knock which was followed by back-to-back singles from Hannemann and Young to load the bases. Happ was able to drive in one run with a sacrifice fly to right before Caratini doubled to left to score two more Smokies.

McKinney then picked up his fourth RBI of the evening - tying a career high - with a base hit to left field. That was all for McMyne and RHP Carlos Gonzalez (0.2 IP, H) took over for the Blue Wahoos. Afer Carhart was hit by a pitch, LF Kelly Dugan (0-2, RBI, 2 BB) grounded out to third but allowed Caratini to scamper home handing Tennessee an 11-1 lead. SS Carlos Penalver (1-4, RBI) singled to left to drive in McKinney and the final run of the 12-1 contest.

The game went into a rain delay after the sixth inning and was officially called minutes later.

The Smokies will enjoy a day off before getting back to work on Wednesday when they begin a five-game series at Jacksonville against the Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The first pitch for Wednesday's contest is set for 12:05 p.m. EST. Tennessee will give the ball to RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (3-3, 2.98 ERA) while Jacksonville will turn to RHP Hunter Adkins (1-1, 5.91 ERA).

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 11:50 a.m. ET, leading up to the 12:05 p.m. ET first pitch. Wednesday evening's broadcast can be heard online at http://smokiesbaseball.com/ or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps.

The Tennessee Smokies Charity of Choice for the 2016 season is Alzheimer's Tennessee. Alzheimer's Tennessee's mission is to serve those facing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, to promote brain health through education, and to champion global prevention and treatment efforts. For more information on how to join the Tennessee Smokies in helping Alzheimer's Tennessee achieve their mission, please visit http://www.alztennessee.org/smokies/.

Single-game tickets, as well as multi-voucher and season ticket packages are still available, and can be purchased online at http://smokiesbaseball.com/, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at file://localhost/tel/865-286-2300.


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