SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Offense Shines in Smokies' 10-5 Win Tuesday Night

Published on August 2, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - Runs were aplenty for the Tennessee Smokies Tuesday night, as Jim Adduci and Jae-Hoon Ha led an 11-hit attack for the Smokies in a 10-5 win over the Birmingham Barons. The win, in front of 3,010 fans, puts the Smokies at 19-19 on the season's second half and 62-46 overall.

Tennessee had little trouble with Barons' starter Charlie Leesman. Adduci singled to lead off the first inning, and advanced to third on a double by Ha. Adduci was tagged out on a fielder's choice, but not before Ha could move up to third, and Ha would later score on a Rebel Ridling groundout, giving the Smokies the early 1-0 lead.

After Birmingham answered with a run to tie it in the top of the second, the Smokies offense posted a big inning to retake the lead in the bottom half. Matt Spencer reached on a hit-by-pitch and Junior Lake singled to start the inning. Nate Samson moved the two runners up with a sacrifice bunt, and Ha scored both with a single to center. Blake Lalli followed with a double to score Ha, giving the Smokies a 4-1 advantage.

In the fifth, Leesman (8-5) walked the bases loaded with no outs, and Luis Flores brought in Blake Lalli with a sac fly to center. Spencer then singled to score Ridling, extending the margin to 6-1.

Both teams drove in a pair of runs in the sixth. Brandon Short cut into the deficit with a two-run homer in the top half, but Ha and Lalli both drove in runs to push the Smokies lead to 8-3 in the bottom half.

Tennessee starter Trey McNutt (2-4) followed the offense's success with his best outing of the season. McNutt, who turned 22-years-old on Tuesday, pitched six solid innings allowing three runs and scattering nine hits, while striking out five.

Jeff Stevens entered the game in the seventh and fell into a bit of trouble, allowing two runs to score on three hits and walking two in two-thirds of an inning. Brent Ebinger came in with bases loaded and two outs and got Jake Oester to fly out to left field to end Birmingham's threat.

The Smokies would add two more runs in the eighth inning, Samson led off with a walk, Adduci and Ha followed with their fourth and third hits, respectively. Samson would score on a Lalli walk, for Lalli's third RBI of the night, and Adduci would score on a Josh Vitters sacrifice fly to centerfield to give the Smokies the 10-5 lead.

Kevin Rhoderick came in the ninth to close things out for Tennessee, striking out two in the ninth inning.

Game 4 between the Smokies and Barons is set for 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at Smokies Park. Tennessee's Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1-2, 7.53) will square off against Birmingham's Terry Doyle (3-4, 3.19). Tickets for the game can be purchased online at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from August 2, 2011


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