
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.
Southern League Stories from August 13, 2011
- Errors Plague M-Braves in Mobile - Mississippi Braves
- BayBears Blast Braves in Series Winner - Mobile BayBears
- Stars Launch Three Rockets to Soar Past Generals - Huntsville Stars
- Carolina wins over Montgomery - Carolina Mudcats
- Gimenez Leads Lookouts to 6-3 Win - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Gimenez Hammers Barons, 6-3 - Birmingham Barons
- Stars Homer Past Generals, Ending Four-Game Win Streak - Jackson Generals
- Bats Go Silent in Shutout Loss for Smokies Saturday Night - Knoxville Smokies
- Carolina Batters Biscuits 9-4 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Suns Blank Smokies 3-0 / Hand Pitches Six Scoreless Innings in Tenth Victory - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- 1st-Round Pick Bauer to BayBears - Mobile BayBears
- RHP Scarpetta to DL; RHP Henderson to Huntsville - Huntsville Stars
- Generals Notes Saturday - Jackson Generals
- Kenshin Kawakami off the DL - Mississippi Braves
- Montgomery beats Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Knoxville Smokies Stories
- Series Preview - Knoxville Smokies vs Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Series Recap - Knoxville Smokies at Birmingham Barons
- Series Preview: Knoxville Smokies at Birmigham Barons
- Checking in on Former Smokies
- Knoxville Smokies Recap: Knoxville Smokies vs. Montgomery Biscuits

