Biscuits' Blasts Smash Smokies 17-4
Published on August 20, 2015 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE - Biscuits designated hitter Daniel Robertson and third baseman Cameron Seitzer combined for seven hits and nine RBI, while Smokies center fielder Jacob Hannemann homered and made two spectacular diving catches as Montgomery mashed four home runs in a 17-4 toppling of Tennessee on Thursday evening at Smokies Stadium.
The Biscuits' victory improved their North Division leading record to 32-20 in the second half of the season, keeping the club ahead by at least two and a half games over the Birmingham Barons while also recording their tenth win in 11 contests. The Smokies, meanwhile, dropped to two games below the .500 mark at 25-27 since the midpoint of the year, in addition to a 64-57 clip overall.
Montgomery got their first three runs of the contest without the aid of a longball, plating a three-spot in the second. 1B Jake Bauers walked and Robertson singled, before both were driven home by LF Johnny Field Jr. with a triple to center, putting the Biscuits ahead 2-0. Field Jr. would then come plateware via C Justin O'Conner's RBI base knock to complete the club's first wave.
The power surge was sparked in the third with another three tallies. RF Patrick Leonard led off the frame with a solo blast to left-center, his tenth big fly of the season, with Seitzer promptly slamming a double to center, later scoring when DH Daniel Robertson crushed a two-run blast into the Calhoun's At The Yard deck in left field, making it a 6-0 ballgame.
The Biscuits would go on to reach double digits in the run total in the subsequent frame. O'Conner led off the fourth with a single, while SS Juniel Querecuto reached base on a free pass, prior to Seitzer smashing a three-run roundtripper to right , Seitzer's 11th of the campaign, to move Montgomery's margin up to 10-0.
Tennessee would end the Biscuits' shutout hopes, however, plating a score in the fifth. 2B Stephen Bruno was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, and then would scamper all the way around from first to score on Hannemann's triple that one-hopped the center field wall to narrow the deficit to nine.
Montgomery would get one more big inning, however, scoring six two innings later. Robertson drove in the first two runs of the frame to up his RBI total to four on the evening with a double, his fourth hit of the night, with O'Conner later sending him home with a base knock of his own. After Reginatto's sacrifice fly to center, Seitzer capped his outstanding game with a two-run double down the right field line. A bases-loaded walk drawn in the eighth by Leonardo upped the score to 17-1.
Hannemann in the last of the eighth recorded his second extra-base hit of the contest by slamming a solo shot off the right field foul pole, his fifth longball of the season, to cut Biscuits' advantage to 17-2. Hannemann (2-4, R, 3B, HR, 2 RBI), Rademacher (2-4, 2B) and 3B Jeimer Candelario (2-3, 2B) each recorded multi-hit efforts for the Smokies, while Hannemann also made two spectacular diving catches, including one on the very first pitch of the game.
The Smokies did plate two mroe tallies in the final frame thanks to another longball. 1B Wes Darvill came in to pitch in the top of the ninth, firing one shutout inning, before slamming a two-run homer to right, his second of the year. Darvill became the first Smokies pitcher to homer in a game since Eduardo Figueroa did so on June 6, 2014 against the Jacksonville Suns.
Six Biscuits batters, including Robertson (4-6, 4 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Seitzer (3-5, 3 R, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, BB), O'Conner (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), Leonard (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Varona (2-5, R, HR, RBI, BB) and Field Jr. (2-5, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI) all collected two or more hits in the contest, with all but one of Montgomery's batters in the order accruing at least one hit and one run scored. Bruno failed to tally a base knock, snapping his ten-game hit streak.
Biscuits starter Taylor Guerrieri (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 4 SO) earned his second Double-A victory of the year, while Smokies starter Rob Zastryzny (3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, SO) suffered the defeat. Montgomery reliever Ryne Stanek (2.0 IP, H) tossed two scoreless innings of relief as well.
The Smokies and Biscuits are slated to continue their six-game series with a doubleheader on Friday evening, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Tickets purchased for that date will be good for both matchups, with both games scheduled to last seven innings. Tennessee is expected to give the nod to RHP Ryan Williams (8-2, 2.60) in the first faceoff of the evening, with Montgomery set to oppose Williams with LHP Chris Kirsch (2-2, 4.89). RHP Fernando Cruz (2-0, 5.47) is scheduled to take the hill for the Smokies in the nightcap, while RHP Jared Mortensen (7-5, 3.73) is expected to toe the rubber for the Biscuits.
Fans will want to remain for both contests on Remote Area Medical Friday for a spectacular post-game fireworks show that will take place immediately following the conclusion of the second contest of the night, presented to Pepsi, Coors Light, Dollywood's Splash Country, WVLT, WIVK and the Knoxville News Sentinel. Game one of the doubleheader will have a cartoon theme to pay homage to everyone's favorite cartoons, while the nightcap will have a 90's theme.
Tickets for all remaining 2015 home contests at Smokies Stadium 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 August 20, 2015
- M-Braves Defeat Barons 4-3 - Mississippi Braves
- Starting Pitching Dominates as Shuckers Split Twin Bill in Jackson - Biloxi Shuckers
- Hunter Helps Generals to Twin Bill Split - Jackson Generals
- Adleman Dominant Again in 3-1 Win - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits' Blasts Smash Smokies 17-4 - Knoxville Smokies
- Biscuits Pound Smokes 17-4 - Montgomery Biscuits
- BayBears and Suns Postponed Again on Thursday - Mobile BayBears
- Suns and BayBears Postponed - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Markel to AAA; McPherson Activated - Montgomery Biscuits
- Bryson Smith to Louisville, Phillip Ervin from Daytona - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Ross to the DL; Kleinknecht, Cervenka to Mississippi - Mississippi Braves
- Ege and Esch to New Orleans - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Extra-Base Hits Lead Barons over Braves 5-4 - Birmingham Barons
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.
