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 Tennessee Smokies

Smokies Lose Series, Get Shut out by Barons 5-0

May 18, 2016 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE - The Smokies out hit the Barons on Wednesday night by the count of 7-6, but it was the Barons who came out on top 5-0 to take the series. LF Mark Zagunis was a bright spot for the Smokies as he went 4-for-4 at the dish.

The Smokies now hold a record of 18-22 on the year while the Barons improved to that same mark with their win.

RHP Brad Markey was able to retire the side in the first two innings, but the Barons' offense got going in the third. With one out, LF Nick Basto (1-4, 2 R) drove a double to left then moved to third after Blackburn threw his pickoff attempt to center field where CF Jacob Hannemann (0-4) was given a catching error after he couldn't handle the ball giving Basto time to advance. CF Marcus Lemon (1-3, RBI, SO) drove home Basto on a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Barons doubled their lead in the third courtesy of Knoxville native 3B Nicky Delmonico (2-4, RBI, R) sending a solo shot over the right field wall giving the Barons a 2-0 lead.

The runs kept coming for Birmingham in the fifth and sixth innings. 2B Joey DeMichele (1-4, RBI, R) started the fifth with a one out single. Basto then reached on a missed catch error by 1B Kelly Dugan (0-3, SO) who couldn't catch the throwing attempt by 3B Jeimer Candelario (0-4, BB, 2 SO) that allowed DeMichele to score all the way from first. Lemon then singled advancing Basto to third before he was driven in by SS Eddy Alvarez (0-5, RBI, SO) who grounded out to third giving the Barons a 4-0 advantage.

Pina doubled to begin the sixth frame to right that was followed by a Delmonico single to put runners on the corners for the Barons. Markey (7.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) then walked C Jeremy Dowdy (0-2, 2 BB) with one out to load the bases. DeMichele drove home Pina giving Birmingham a 5-0 lead.

Markey's night was finished after the seventh as RHP Josh Conway (2.0 IP, BB, 3 SO) came on for the Smokies. The Smokies hit into three double plays through the first seven frames while Markey picked up his first loss of the season.

Tennessee managed to string something together in the home half of the seventh but were unable to capitalize. LF Mark Zagunis (4-4) led off with a single that was followed by a C Victor Caratini (1-4) single after Candelario was struck out. LHP Blair Walters (8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 SO) and the Barons got out of the jam getting RF Billy McKinney (1-3, BB) to fly out and SS Carlos Penalver (0-4) grounding out to first.

The Barons gave the mound to RHP Nolan Sanburn (1.0 IP, H, BB, SO) after Walters pitched eight innings of shutout baseball on his way to his first Double-A win. The Smokies were able to connect for a single from Zagunis and draw a walk by McKinney, but nothing was doing for the Smokies as they were shut out by the Barons.

The Smokies welcome the Biloxi Shuckers, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, to town on Thursday to begin a five-game series. LHP Rob Zastryzny (2-2, 4.02 ERA) will get the mound for the Smokies while the Shuckers will turn to RHP Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Smokies Stadium. Thursday's broadcast can be heard exclusively online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps. The game can also be watched online via MiLB.tv

Thursday will be a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday. Fans will be able to enjoy drink specials throughout the evening. Patrons can purchase draft beers and soft drinks for as low as just $1 dollar to celebrate the upcoming weekend. It will also be Zumba Night presented by Gold's Gym. From 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. there will be a Zumba class held on the Smokies Stadium field, as well as special on-field games throughout the contest. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.


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Southern League Stories from May 18, 2016


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