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Tennessee Smokies

Smokies' Bats Fall Short in 6-2 Loss

April 12, 2017 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, TN - Opening night at Smokies Stadium did not go as planned for the 5,836 fans in attendance, which is the largest Opening Day crowd since Randy Boyd took over ownership of the Tennessee Smokies. The offense failed to produce runs against the visitors from Mississippi as they dropped the first game of a ten game home stand against the Braves.

Zach Hedges' second start of the young season was similar to his first as he again received the loss after starting the game off by retiring his first six batters. Trouble started for Hedges after walking Connor Lien to lead off the third as the Braves played small ball to get runners in scoring position. Three straight doubles by Luis Valenzuela, Travis Demeritte, and Carlos Franco drove in a run each to extend the lead to 4-1 at the end of the top half of the third. Hedges drops to 0-2 on the season after giving up four runs in five innings of action.

Meanwhile, the offense took the early lead in the bottom of the first as David Bote drove in Charcer Burks, who led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base. However, the Smokies struggled to drive in runners when they had them in scoring position, only managing to drive in two runs on seven hits and leaving eight runner left on base. The Smokies would add another run in the fourth as Ian Rice led off with a double and was driven in on a single to left by Trey Martin, but that was all the Smokies' offense could muster.

The Braves' win was capped off with a solo home run in the ninth by Connor Lien off of Gerardo Concepcion and Akeel Morris shut the door out of the bullpen as the Braves took game one of the series. Same place, but a different time on Thursday as first pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. from Smokies Stadium for Smokies Health and Safety Day.

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