Bats Go Silent in Shutout Loss for Smokies Saturday Night
August 13, 2011 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
KODAK, Tenn. - The Tennessee Smokies were unable to follow up on their late-inning heroics of the last two nights, mustering only four hits Saturday night in a 3-0 defeat to the Jacksonville Suns. Suns pitching was too much for the Smokies to overcome as the team fell to 27-22 in the second half, 70-49 overall.
Jacksonville starter Brad Hand, who was just sent down from the Florida Marlins on Friday, and the rest of the Suns' pitching staff were too much for the Smokies bats to overcome. The left-handed starter tossed six innings, allowing only four hits, while striking out three.
The Suns scored two of the runs in the fourth inning after loading the bases on a Luke Montz double, Kyle Jensen walk, and Jake Smolinski single. Smokies starter Trey McNutt walked Ben Lasater, allowing Montz to score, and Neil Sellers sacrifice fly would bring in Jensen.
Hand helped himself in the fifth inning by walking and scoring on a Kevin Mattison double, bringing the Suns' lead to 3-0.
The three-run lead was all the Suns pitchers would need, as they did not allow a runner on base after the third inning.
McNutt (2-5) took the loss in a solid outing of his own, allowing three runs on six hits over six inning of work. Hand (10-3) got the win, while Chris Hatcher (S, 5) picked up the save tossing a perfect ninth.
The rubber match between the Smokies and Suns will be Sunday at 5:00 at Smokies Park. Larry Suarez (0-0, 2.25) will make his Smokies Park debut and face-off against Jacksonville's Bryan Evans (1-0, 2.30). The first 1,000 kids 12-and-under will receive a free drawstring backpack, courtesy of Pepsi. For tickets fans can visit www.smokiesbaseball.com or call (865) 286-2300.
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