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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Black, Cervenka and Francescon Blank Generals

June 26, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


JACKSON - Stephen Bruno, Christian Villanueva and Rubi Silva each had two hits and Corey Black, Hunter Cervenka and P.J. Francescon combined to shut out the Generals in Tennessee's 4-0 win at Generals Park on Thursday night.

The shutout victory was the sixth this season for Tennessee (6-2, 39-38). The win also put the Smokies above .500 for the first time since they were 26-25 on May 27 in Huntsville.

The Generals (2-6, 33-44) left 10 runners on base and were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Smokies stranded eight and were 3-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Tennessee's offense also pounded out 10 singles and one double in the road victory.

Elliot Soto, Jae-Hoon Ha and Bruno each singled to start the Smokies third. Bruno's single plated both Soto and Ha after it was misplayed in left by Jackson outfielder Dario Pizzano.

Pizzano also misplayed the next ball hit out to him by Villanueva and was charged with his second error in the inning. Villanueva's single brought in Bruno for the third run in the inning and was the fourth of five straight hits in the frame. Charlie Cutler finished the rally with a run scoring double and the Smokies took a 4-0 lead.

The Smokies pounded out six hits and scored four times in the third against Jackson starter Victor Sanchez. Sanchez (3-4, 4.61) allowed eight hits, four earned runs and one walk in the loss.

Black (3-5, 3.03) pitched through the fifth and left with one out in the sixth inning. He scattered six hits in the victory and did not allow a run. Black walked two and struck out three while earning his first win since April 28 against Huntsville.

Tennessee's starting pitcher not only turned in a brilliant start, he also made a spectacular defensive play in the third. Leon Landry reached on a one-out single in the inning, but was caught off first by rightfielder Rubi Silva. Silva fielded the single and quickly got the ball back to first where Black was waiting as he moved in behind Landry. Black got the throw from Silva and then tagged out Landry for the inning's second out.

Cervenka followed Black and kept Jackson without a run over two scoreless innings. Cervenka struck out one and faced just six batters.

Francescon entered out of the pen in the eighth and kept the Generals without a run despite allowing two hits in the inning. He also pitched the ninth and kept the Generals scoreless.

The win gave the Smokies a 3-0 series lead with two games remaining. Game four of the series is set for Friday night in Jackson with Eduardo Figueroa (0-0, 4.73) starting for the Smokies against Jackson lefty Tyler Pike (0-0, 0.00).

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