SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Ankiel Homers, Smokies Blank Braves Again

Published on June 23, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Greenville, SC- Rhett Parrott took a perfect game into the fourth inning and combined with B.R. Cook and Juan Pena to shut out the Braves in a 9-0 Smokies win Monday night at Municipal Stadium. Tennessee exploded for nine runs on fifteen hits, including a pinch hit two-run home run by pitcher Rick Ankiel, his first of the season.

Parrott (5-7) didn't allow a base runner until Ryan Langerhans stroked a clean single to left with two outs in the fourth. Parrott retired the first 11 batters he faced and didn't allow as many as two base runners in the same inning until the sixth. Cook allowed two hits in a scoreless eighth and Pena struck out three in the ninth. Following last night's 5-0 shutout, the Tennessee pitching staff is working on a 20 1/3 innings scoreless streak.

The Smokies opened the scoring against Chris Waters (2-2) in the first inning when Bucky Jacobsen scored John Nelson on sacrifice fly. Tennessee (5-1, 40-36) went up 3-0 on Nelson's two-run double in the fifth.

Tennessee put the game out of reach with a five run eighth inning against reliever Kazuhiro Takeoka. Jacobsen, Papo Bolivar, and Corey Erickson stroked consecutive one out singles to start the scoring. Al Benjamin scored Bolivar and Erickson with a double, and Ankiel capped the scoring with a pinch hit home run.

Takeoka stayed on the mound for the ninth and allowed the final run on Bolivar's sacrifice fly that scored Nelson. All told, Takeoka allowed six runs on seven hits over two innings.

Greenville (37-37, 1-5) has just one win since the second half re-start.

The series continues Monday night at 7:15 in Greenville as Jeremy Cummings (7-6, 3.39) goes for the Smokies against Adam Wainright (5-4, 3.36).

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Southern League Stories from June 23, 2003


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