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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Lookouts' Late Rally Topples Tennessee 3-1

April 29, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


KODAK - After a solid start from Tennessee starter Felix Pena, Chattanooga left fielder Adam Walker's ninth-inning run-scoring double broke a 1-1 tie as part of a two-run frame to lead the Lookouts to a 3-1 victory over the Smokies on Wednesday afternoon at Smokies Stadium.

Despite the defeat, Tennessee finishes the five-game set with a 3-2 series victory, though the club fell to 11-7 on the year. Chattanooga with the victory improved to a 9-10 tally, moving them to within just one game from the .500 mark.

Pena (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) finished his strong first month of 2015 in solid fashion, yielding a lone earned run on just four hits in his seven frames, adding seven strikeouts while allowing two walks. The right-hander end April with a 2-0 record and 1.46 ERA (4 ER in 24.2 IP) over four starts, tossing three quality outings, including Wednesday's effort.

The Lookouts got their lone run off the 25-year-old in the fourth, taking the early 1-0 advantage in the process. CF Byron Buxton laced a single to center to lead off the frame, stole second and then advanced to third on a groundout, before coming home on a force out to push Chattanooga ahead.

Tennessee was kept off the board until the seventh thanks to a strong effort from Chattanooga starter DJ Baxendale, who eventually did surrender a single tally in that frame. C Willson Contreras started the seventh with a double down the left field line, and then moved to third on an infield single, before coming across when SS Elliot Soto reached on a bunt, evening the contest at 1-1.

The game remained a draw until the ninth, when Chattanooga plated their two scores for their second and final lead of the afternoon. 1B DJ Hicks began the rally with a base knock to bring up Walker, who bounced a double just inside the third base bag and into the left field corner to send in Hicks to give the Lookouts a 2-1 margin. Chattanooga would then add insurance later in the inning thanks to C Carlos Paulino's RBI single to center.

The Lookouts got a stellar outing from starter DJ Baxendale (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO), though the righty did not factor in the decision despite surrendering a lone earned run on five hits, adding eight strikeouts. The start marked the third straight start the tenth round pick out of the University of Arkansas has not allowed a run through the first six innings of an outing.

Lookouts relievers Jake Reed (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) and Zach Jones (1.0 IP, 2 SO) followed Baxendale by combining for the final 2.2 shutout frames. Reed earned his first victory of 2015 to improve to 1-2, while Jones pitched a perfect ninth to notch his fifth save of the season. Smokies relief man Carl Edwards Jr. (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the defeat in the series finale.

Smokies 2B Stephen Bruno (2-4) was the lone Tennessee batter to record a multi-hit effort in the defeat, while Paulino (2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) was the only Chattanooga hitter to collect two or more hits. Smokies C Kyle Schwarber doubled to begin the eighth inning to extend his hit streak to eight, though the backstop failed to drive in a run, snapping a stretch of seven consecutive games in which the 23-year-old had tallied at least one RBI.

Tennessee will now hit the road to begin an 11-game road trip to Alabama and Florida, beginning in Birmingham with a five-game set against the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Smokies are scheduled to send LHP Rob Zastryzny (0-0, 2.84) to the hill for the series opener, while the Barons are slated to give the nod to RHP Junior Guerra (1-3, 2.84). First pitch at Regions Field is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.

The next home game at Smokies Stadium will take place on Monday, May 11, when Tennessee will open a five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. As part of that series, the club will be playing a scheduled day-night doubleheader on May 12, with more details on that day's festivities to be announced in the near future.

Tickets for that evening's contest and all other remaining Smokies home games are still available, and can be purchased online by clicking here, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from April 29, 2015


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