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SL Knoxville Smokies

Kilian Earns First Cubs Organization Win as Smokies Hold on to Beat Birmingham

August 20, 2021 - Southern League (SL)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (41-49) defeated the Birmingham Barons (49-43), 3-2, in an instant classic Friday night at Smokies Stadium. The Smokies scored all three of their runs in the first two innings and held on behind great pitching from Caleb Kilian, Graham Lawson, and Garrett Kelly.

With two outs, and runners on the corners in the top of the ninth, Xavier Fernandez took off for second. Kelly threw it to Andy Weber at second who looked Fernandez back to first. Weber then threw home to Tim Susnara who tagged out Lenyn Sosa, the tying run, to end the game.

The Smokies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Nelson Maldanado singled, moved to second on Brennen Davis' single, and scored on Nelson Velazquez's RBI single.

The Smokies extended their lead to 3-0 in the second inning. Andy Weber led off the frame with a double, and scored on D.J. Artis' RBI single up the middle. Maldanado brought Artis home two at-bats later with an RBI double down the left field line.

J.J. Muno got Birmingham on the board in the third inning with a solo home run off Kilian (W, 1-2). Kilian was excellent in his second start at Smokies Stadium. The right-hander allowed just three hits and one run while striking out five in five innings.

Birmingham loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning, but Lawson limited the damage, allowing just one run on a Sosa groundout. Lawson turned in a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the Smokies 3-2 lead, marking the right-hander's best outing of the season.

Kelly (SV, 1) struck out the side in the eighth inning, but ran into trouble in the ninth after back-to-back singles from Sosa and Fernandez gave Birmingham runners on the corners with nobody out. Kelly struck out the next two batters to set up a critical at-bat with Muno. After Muno went up 1-0, the Smokies caught Sosa trying to score from third to end the game.

The Smokies and Barons will play a doubleheader at Smokies Stadium Saturday night, both games will be seven innings in length. Game one is scheduled to begin at 5 PM. Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.

There will be a post game fireworks show presented by Pepsi and Coors Light Saturday night. Tickets for the remainder of the Birmingham series are available and can be purchased online, over the phone, or by visiting the box office.

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Southern League Stories from August 20, 2021


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