Big Sixth Pushes Smokies Past Pensacola
Published on May 24, 2019 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
KODAK, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (24-23) defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (29-19) 5-1 Friday night at Smokies Stadium. LHP Justin Steele did not factor in the decision, but turned in his longest outing of the season. He allowed one run on five hits over five innings with four strikeouts.
After Steele recorded the first two outs in the third, Travis Blankenhorn extended the inning with a single. He then stole second, and scored on Alex Kirilloff's RBI-single. The Smokies tied the game in the fourth. Ian Rice kept the inning alive with a two-out single and scored from first on Charcer Burks' RBI-triple.
The Smokies batted around and scored four times in the sixth. Rice drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on Burks' single. Both runners moved up 90-feet on Christian Donahue's sacrifice bunt. A throwing error from RHP Jorge Alcala (L, 5-2) allowed Burks to reach. Gioskar Amaya's RBI-single, scoring Rice, gave the Smokies their first lead. Jesse Hodges followed with a two-run single, plating Burks and Donahue. Amaya would come around to score on P.J. Higgins' sacrifice fly.
LHP Jordan Minch (W, 5-1) earned his fifth win in relief. He walked three over two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Alcala suffered the loss. He allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and five walks in four innings. RHP Craig Brooks retired the final six Blue Wahoos with a pair of strikeouts.
The Smokies can clinch the series against Pensacola Saturday night. RHP Thomas Hatch (1-5, 6.17) will get the ball for Tennessee against RHP Brusdar Graterol (5-0, 1.89). First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM ET.
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