Smokies Down Barons Behind Big Inning
April 12, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Tennessee Smokies (5-2) used a four-run third inning to march past the Birmingham Barons (3-5) by a 7-1 final Friday night at Regions Field.
After Barons starter Bernardo Flores (L, 0-1) retired the first seven batters he faced, the left-hander ran into one-out trouble in the third. Tennessee put runners on the corners with a walk and single before a soft ground ball to second slipped into the outfield, which allowed the game's first run to cross the plate.
The Smokies extended their lead to 4-0 with a two-RBI single from Jared Young and an RBI-double off the bat of Ian Rice.
Flores, whose 2019 debut was cut short due to a rain postponement, battled through six innings and allowed just one earned run (four total). The southpaw struck out six in the loss.
Birmingham's best scoring opportunity came back in the first when Joel Booker and Laz Rivera delivered consecutive singles to lead off the frame. However, a 4-6-3 double play negated the threat.
Smokies right-hander Cory Abbott (W, 1-0) scattered eight hits across 5.2 innings of work and struck out eight to earn his first victory of the season.
Barons designated hitter Micker Adolfo broke up Abbott's shutout bid with a two-out single to center in the sixth. However, the Smokies responded with two runs in the seventh off Barons southpaw Brian Clark to put the game out of reach.
The Barons and Smokies will continue their five-game set at 6:30 p.m. Saturday as Barons right-hander Felix Paulino (1-0, 0.00) makes his first start of the 2019 season. Coverage of Saturday's game will begin at 6:15 p.m. on WJOX-AM 690 with the Coca-Cola Pregame Show.
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