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Tennessee Smokies

Smokies Can't Hold Late Lead, Drop Series Finale, 8-5

May 21, 2012 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


PEARL, Miss. - With the Tennessee Smokies leading by a run in the bottom of the eight, a throwing error by reliever Brian Schlitter opened the door for a five-run frame as the Mississippi Braves rallied back for an 8-5 win in the finale of a five-game series at Trustmark Park on Monday night.

The Smokies, who lead the league in unearned runs allowed, were again plagued by poor defense late in the contest. With Tennessee leading, 4-3, in the bottom of the eighth, Schlitter walked the leadoff batter Joe Leonard. Christian Bethencourt then laid a bunt down the third base line which Schlitter fielded and fired wide of third base into the left field corner, allowing both pinch runner Keenan Wiley and the batter, Bethencourt, to score to give the Braves a 5-4 lead. Later in the frame, an RBI double by pinch hitter Barrett Kleinknecht and a two-run single to center by Todd Cunningham made it an 8-4 contest.

Prior to the eighth inning, the Tennessee bullpen had not allowed a run in 14.2 innings in the series.

The Smokies wouldn't go down without a fight. Trailing 8-4 in the top of the ninth, Elliot Soto drew a one-out walk and Junior Lake followed with a single before Jae-Hoon Ha laced an RBI single to cut Tennessee's deficit to 8-5. That brought Southern League RBI leader Justin Bour up to bat as the potential tying run, but Mississippi closer Mark Lamm induced an game-ending ground out to first base to preserve the Braves win.

After first pitch was delayed 35 minutes due to rain, the Braves drew first blood, opening the scoring with a pair of first-inning runs against Tennessee starter Dae-Eun Rhee. After Rhee retired the first batter he faced, the Braves strung together three straight one-out singles with Joe Leonard knocking in the first run of the day. The next batter, Bethencourt, lifted a sacrifice fly to give Mississippi a 2-0 advantage.

Tennessee struck back to the tune of a four-run third inning to take the lead. Rhee drew a leadoff walk and Junior Lake followed with a single. Logan Watkins sacrificed both runners over and Rhee came plateward on a wild pitch to cut Tennessee's deficit to 2-1. Bour followed with an RBI groundout to short to tie the score before Rebel Ridling cracked a two-run homer down the left field line to give Tennessee a 4-2 edge.

Mississippi got a run back in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one, 4-3, when Tim Smith pinch hit for pitcher David Hale and led off with a single before scoring three batters later on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Phil Gosselin.

Luis Avilan (1-3) picked up his first win of the season, allowing just two hits over three scoreless innings out of the Mississippi bullpen. Schlitter (0-2) was tagged for four runs (three earned) while suffering the loss.

In his ninth start of the season, Rhee allowed three runs and scattered eight hits over six innings of work. For Mississippi, Hale yielded four runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings of action.

The Smokies continue their season-long 10-game road trip when they travel to Mobile to take on the Bay Bears on Tuesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. In the opener of the five-game set, Tennessee will send southpaw Jeff Antigua (1-0, 3.86 ERA) to the mound for his first start of the season while Mobile counters with right-hander Michael Bolsinger (0-1, 1.35 ERA) with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. The Bay Bears (25-20) sit atop the Southern League South Division standings despite dropping six of their last seven contests and losing back-to-back series.

GAME NOTES : Despite the loss, Tennessee took three of five games in the series against Mississippi... Prior to Monday night, the Smokies were 16-1 when leading after seven innings.

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Southern League Stories from May 21, 2012


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