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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Drop Opener in Birmingham

July 24, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Tennessee Smokies lost the series opener 7-3 to the Birmingham Barons in the first game of the set in Birmingham. Tennessee is now on a seven-game losing skid.

Birmingham took an early lead on a three-run home run in the bottom of the first, making it 3-0 Barons. Tennessee answered with a run in the top of the second. After a walk and stolen base by Ian Rice, P.J. Higgins drove Rice in on an RBI-single to left field. It was the first run driven in by Higgins since he joined the Smokies on July 11 and it cut the Birmingham lead to 3-1. The Barons would immediately respond in the bottom of the frame, as a two-run double made it 5-1.

Tennessee got a run back in the third inning. Rice came to the plate with the bases loaded and drew a walk, scoring Charcer Burks to trim the deficit to 5-2. Birmingham tacked on another run in the bottom of the frame to make it 6-2 and added one more in the fourth to push the lead to 7-2.

Michael Rucker started on the mound for Tennessee. Rucker pitched 3.0 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. He handed the ball to James Buckelew to start the fourth inning. Buckelew threw three innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He also struck out two. Scott Effross was the next arm out of the pen in the bottom of the seventh and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

Down 7-2 in the top of the eighth, the Smokies cut into the lead. Wynton Bernard singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a Burks single. Vimael Machin was the next batter and singled which scored Bernard to make it a 7-3 game.

Tennessee and Birmingham will meet for the second game of the series on Tuesday night at 8:05 p.m. ET. The Smokies are expected to start Keegan Thompson (2-1, 3.80 ERA) on the hill. Thompson is coming off a no-decision against Biloxi, where he threw 5.0 innings and did not allow a run. He is holding batters to a .194 average in the last 30 days.

Written by Blake Von Hagen, Broadcast Assistant for the Tennessee Smokies

The full schedule for this season and information regarding single-game tickets, season tickets, and mini plans can be found online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

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