Lookouts Snap Smokies' Streak with 5-3 Victory
Published on April 27, 2015 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
KODAK - Smokies catcher Kyle Schwarber homered against Lookouts starting pitcher Jose Berrios, who fired six solid innings and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, while Chattanooga left fielder Adam Walker's two-run homer in the fifth inning proved crucial in a 5-3 victory over Tennessee on Monday night at Smokies Stadium.
The loss snaps the Smokies' four-game winning streak and drops their overall record to 10-6, though the club does own a 2-1 advantage in the series. With the victory, Chattanooga improved their 2015 record to 8-9.
Rated the No. 36 overall prospect by Baseball America prior to this season, Berrios (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) kept the Smokies offense in check and did not relinquish a hit until the fifth, when CF Pin-Chieh Chen slapped a base knock into left field. The right-hander earned his second victory of the season after ultimately allowing a lone earned run on two hits in his six frames.
The Lookouts began the scoring in the second via a two-run two-bagger. 2B Levi Michael reached base on a fielder's choice and then advanced to second on CF Byron Buxton's free pass, before both came across on 3B Steve Wickens' clutch two-out double to left, giving Chattanooga the early 2-0 advantage.
The lead would then double to four two innings later thanks to the longball. Wickens first reached base by drawing a base on balls before coming plateward on Walker's two-run opposite field blast to right to move the Lookouts ahead 4-0.
Tennessee, however, would end Chattanooga's shutout hopes in the sixth thanks to a roundtripper of their own. After being hit on the head by a bat on a backswing in the previous half inning, Scwharber smashed the first pitch he saw to lead off the bottom of the sixth for his third big fly of the season.
The Smokies subsequently made it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh with another home run. SS Elliot Soto began the frame with a walk to bring up 3B Ryan Dent, who crushed a 1-1 offering into the second deck of Calhoun's At The Yard in left field, narrow Tennessee's deficit to 4-3. That margin would then open back to two in the ninth, however, when 1B DJ Hicks walked with the bases loaded.
Chattanooga relievers Nick Burdi (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO), Jake Reed (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Zack Jones (1.0 IP, 1 BB) supported Berrios and threw the final three frames, with Burdi and Reed earning holds, while Jones notched his fourth save of 2015. Smokies starter Corey Black (5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the defeat to fall to 1-1 on the year, while southpaw Jeffry Antigua (3.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) tossed three shutout innings of relief.
Schwarber (2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB) was the only Tennessee batter to record a multi-hit effort and reached base three times, while Buxton (2-4, 1 R, 1 BB) also collected two base knocks for the Lookouts. Smokies 1B Dan Vogelbach, who earlier Monday earned his second straight Southern League Player of the Week honor, failed to reach base for the first time this season.
Tennessee will look to clinch the five-game set versus Chattanooga on Tuesday evening, with the fourth game of the series slated to start at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Smokies are expected to give the nod to RHP Ivan Pineyro (1-0, 4.02), while the Lookouts are scheduled to counter with RHP Greg Peavey (1-1, 8.59).
It's the first NexGard-Heartgard Tail Waggin' Tuesday of the season, when every dog has his day at Smokies Stadium. Man's best friends are more than welcome to join their owners on the outfield berm for a beautiful evening of fun and baseball.
Those unable to attend can catch the game on the Smokies' flagship station, WNML Sports Radio 99.1 FM, as well as on smokiesbaseball.com and the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn apps. The contest will also be shown on MiLB.tv, with Mick Gillispie and Justin Rocke calling the action. The Pilot Pre-Game Show begins at 6:50 p.m. ET.
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.
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the ten-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.
Southern League Stories from April 27, 2015
- Generals Rally Late to Beat Biscuits, Snap Skid - Jackson Generals
- Wagner Homers and Collects League-Best Fourth Win - Biloxi Shuckers
- Pensacola Loses, 8-2, against Frontrunner Biloxi - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits Lose Back and Forth Battle - Montgomery Biscuits
- Lookouts Snap Smokies' Streak with 5-3 Victory - Knoxville Smokies
- Jaye No-Hits Suns Through Seven, Barons Win 3-2 - Birmingham Barons
- Suns Fall Short to Barons 3-2 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Atlanta Braves Tryout Camp Set for July 9 - Mississippi Braves
- M-Braves and BayBears Washed out Monday - Mississippi Braves
- BayBears & Braves Postponed Monday Due to Inclement Weather - Mobile BayBears
- Brazis placed on the Disabled List; Antigua returns to Tennessee - Knoxville Smokies
- Snell Joins Biscuits - Montgomery Biscuits
- Pitcher and Player of the Week Named - SL1
- Vogelbach Earns Second Straight SL Player of the Week Honor - Knoxville Smokies
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