Hoerner Homers and Triples in Second Game Back from Injury, Smokies Lose 6-5
July 5, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
Montgomery, AL - The Tennessee Smokies (39-46, 6-10) and Montgomery Biscuits (5333, 9-7) needed ten innings to determine a winner on Friday night, as Montgomery grabbed a 6-5 win. Chicago Cubs #1 Prospect Nico Hoerner belted a two-run home run and a triple in just his second game back since April.
The two sides traded the lead on four separate occasions in the first five innings of the game. Montgomery took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Walls. Tennessee then came back with a run on a Gioskar Amaya single in the second and Hoerner's two-run tater in the third to make it 3-1. The homer is his second of the season, but first traditional bomb to clear the fence in Double-A.
Walls answered in the bottom of the third with an RBI-single. In the next frame, Brett Sullivan doubled in Lucius Fox, and a David Rodriguez sac fly allowed the Biscuits to retake the lead, 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, Hoerner stole the show again, this time with an RBI-triple to tie the game, scoring Roberto Caro. The 2018 first round pick would then come home on a Jared Young groundout to give the Smokies the lead. In the bottom of the stanza, Montgomery answered right back to tie the game at five with an RBI-knock from Kevin Padlo.
In his Smokies debut, RHP Alexander Vargas allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits with three walks.
Both bullpens shut down the opposition over the next four frames. In innings six through nine, RHP Ben Hecht and LHP Wyatt Short each kept the Biscuits off the board, while RHP Brian Shaffer handled the final three regulation frames against the Smokies.
In the top of the tenth, the Smokies loaded the bases with one out, but could not push across a run against Shaffer. Montgomery's bonus runner, Walls, stole third base with one out, and Padlo's sacrifice fly against RHP Bailey Clark (L, 1-1) brought the game to an end.
The two sides are at it again on Saturday with a 7:05 PM ET first pitch. Tennessee's started ir TBA, while Montgomery will send RHP Riley O'Brien (6-5, 3.01) to the mound.
Southern League Stories from July 5, 2019
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- Timely Hit Sends BayBears to Win over Jumbo Shrimp - Mobile BayBears
- Biscuits Walk-Off Smokies, 6-5 in 10 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Shuckers Quiet M-Braves for Second Straight Win - Biloxi Shuckers
- BayBears Top Shrimp 4-2 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Hoerner Homers and Triples in Second Game Back from Injury, Smokies Lose 6-5 - Knoxville Smokies
- Davidson Fans Nine in Friday Night Loss - Mississippi Braves
- Johan Belisario Added Back to Shuckers Roster - Biloxi Shuckers
- Ender Inciarte Expected to Join M-Braves on Monday and Tuesday at Trustmark Park - Mississippi Braves
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- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: Game Notes, July 5 at Mobile - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Last Rally Tips Blue Wahoos - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
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