SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Can't Hold Lead, Fall to Barons, 4-2

Published on May 6, 2012 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


HOOVER, Ala. - Sporting a two-run lead in the sixth inning, the Tennessee Smokies surrendered four late unanswered runs as they fell to the Birmingham Barons, 4-2, in the opener of a five-game series at Regions Park on Sunday evening.

In the loss, Tennessee shortstop Junior Lake doubled and tripled in his 2012 debut after being added to the Smokies roster earlier in the day.

With Brooks Raley on the mound for the Smokies (13-18) and Matt Wickswat making a spot start for the Barons (17-14), the contest went scoreless through four innings.

Tennessee broke through in the fifth when Jim Adduci drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a Lake sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI single to center by Elliot Soto. In the sixth, Nate Samson laced a one-out double to left and scored two batters later on an Adduci sacrifice fly to give the Smokies a 2-0 advantage.

The Barons failed to advance a runner past first base against Raley until the sixth inning, when they plated two runs to even the contest. A single and Raley's first two walks of the contest loaded the bases, and with two outs Seth Loman singled to left to make it a 2-2 game.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Smokies turned the ball over to Casey Weathers and the right-hander struggled with his command. Weathers walked Justin Green to begin the inning and Green proceeded to steal second without a throw and come around to score thanks to a pair of wild pitches to give the Barons their first lead of the day, 3-2. Later in the frame, Tyler Salodino singled with two outs, stole second, and came plateward on a single by Drew Garcia to make it a 4-2 contest.

Tennessee threatened in the top of the ninth when Lake cracked a leadoff triple over the head of the center fielder Green and Soto walked to bring the potential go-ahead run up to bat with no outs, but Barons reliever Dan Remenowsky retired the next three batters in order to notch his first save of the season and preserve the Birmingham victory.

Raley took a no decision, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout over six innings while turning in his fifth quality start in six outings this season. Brian Schlitter added a scoreless inning out of the Tennessee bullpen.

Birmingham reliever Brandon Kloess (2-2) yielded one run on two hits over 3.1 frames to earn the win.

The Smokies and Barons continue their five-game series on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET when Tennessee sends Nick Struck (3-2, 3.58 ERA) to the mound for his seventh start of the season.

GAME NOTES : The contest marked the first of 23 scheduled meetings between the Smokies and Barons this season... Jim Adduci walked twice and lifted a sacrifice fly, but flew out to left field in his only official at-bat to snap a 10-game hitting streak... The Smokies stranded a season-high 12 runners on base as they finished 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position... The Smokies have dropped nine of their last 12 games overall.

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Southern League Stories from May 6, 2012


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