Antigua Stifles Generals in Smokies' 6-3 Series-Opening Win
May 16, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
KODAK - Smokies starter Jeffry Antigua spun six-plus strong innings to quiet Generals hitters, while left fielder Albert Almora homered and designated hitter Tommy La Stella recorded two hits as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment as Tennessee topped Jackson 6-3 in front of 4,573 fans on Saturday evening at Smokies Stadium.
The win was the Smokies' fifth in a six-game span, and also the club's 20th of the season, increasing their 2015 overall mark to 20-15. The series-opening loss for the Generals dropped their tally to 14-19 on the year.
Tennessee struck first by putting up a four-spot in the second frame. 1B Dan Vogelbach led off with a free pass, while C Willson Contreras and SS Elliot Soto followed with consecutive base knocks to bring up 2B Ryan Dent, who sent all three home via a double into the right-center field gap. Dent would later come plateward when DH Tommy La Stella smacked an opposite field two-bagger of his own to left-center.
That advantage would then grow to six three frames later thanks to Almora Jr.'s first longball of the year. La Stella started the fifth with a single right back up the middle to send up Almora Jr., who roped the first pitch of the at bat into Calhoun's At The Yard in left field to increase the margin to 6-0.
The shutout hopes eventually ended in the sixth, with Jackson plating their first score. RF Jabari Blash began the rally with a double to center before DH Jordy Lara reached on a walk to bring up 1B Dan Paolini. The infielder proceeded to get the Generals on the board with a base hit through the box into center field to bring home Blash. Smokies starter Jeffry Antigua, however, would limit the damage and get out of the inning without allowing another tally.
Jackson would narrow their deficit to three in the eighth to make the game tighter. Blash singled, before Lara and Paolini each drew free passes to fill the bases for LF Jabari Henry, who proceeded to reach via a base on balls, forcing in a run. Smokies reliever Starling Peralta would then enter with the bases loaded and one out, ultimately limiting the damage by surrendering a sacrifice fly to C Marcus Littlewood to score Lara to cap the Generals' scoring at 6-3.
The southpaw slinging Antigua (6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO) earned his second victory of the year with his first quality start of 2015, yielding a lone earned run on six hits, adding three walks and two strikeouts in his 6.1 innings of work. Peralta (0.2 IP) and Carl Edwards Jr. (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) fired the final 1.2 hitless frames for Tennessee, with Peralta receiving his first hold of the year and Edwards his second save after striking out the side in the ninth.
Jackson starter Edwin Diaz (4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER suffered the defeat in his Double-A debut, giving up six runs on six hits in 4.2 frames pitched. Relievers James Gilheeney (2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Trevor Miller (1.0 IP, 1 H) kept the Smokies offense at bay from that point forward, joininig forces to surrender only three hits over the last 3.1 frames.
La Stella (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) and Almora (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) led the Smokies with two base knocks each, while Blash (2-4, 2 R, 1 BB) and CF Gabriel Guerrero (2-3) were the only Jackson batters to record a multi-hit effort. La Stella joined Tennessee as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment prior to Friday evening's contest, and has combined to bat .250 (2-8, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) over his first two games with the club as he recovers from right ribcage inflammation.
The Smokies and Generals are set to continue their six-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, with game one of the twinbill slated for 1:05 p.m. ET. Both games are scheduled to last seven innings. Tennessee is anticipated to send RHP Frank Batista to the hill in the first contest, with Jackson expected to give the nod to LHP Danny Hultzen (0-0, 3.00). RHP Andres Santiago (0-1, 7.94) is scheduled to toe the rubber in game two for the Smokies, while LHP Misael Siverio (1-3, 5.23) is set to take the bump for the Generals.
It's another U.S. Cellular Family FUNday, with a special ticket package available for families. Fans can purchase four ticket vouchers, four meal vouchers and two Homer's Playland wristbands for only $48 dollars. The Smokies will also be hosting a Pitch Perfect contest in between games on the field with a "sing-off", in addition to other music-related on-field games that will sure to make for an aca-mazing afternoon.
Tickets for tomorrow's contests, and all other remaining Smokies home games are still available, and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.
Southern League Stories from May 16, 2015
- Mississippi Ends Pensacola's Winning Streak - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Jackson Falls to Smokies in Diaz's Double-A Debut - Jackson Generals
- Late Rally Not Enough, Biscuits Drop Opener - Montgomery Biscuits
- Antigua Stifles Generals in Smokies' 6-3 Series-Opening Win - Knoxville Smokies
- Shuckers and Suns Postponed by Rain on Saturday Night - Biloxi Shuckers
- Suns and Shuckers Postponed Due to Rain - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- LHP Tyler Ihrig transferred from Triple-A Iowa; Black placed on the Disabled List - Knoxville Smokies
- Reginatto Back to Biscuits; Guevara to Extended Spring - Montgomery Biscuits
- RHP Hiram Burgos Added from Brevard, RHP Eric Marzec Transferred to Brevard - Biloxi Shuckers
- Barons Post Third Consecutive Sellout - Birmingham Barons
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