SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Fall Short in Birmingham

Published on September 1, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Hoover, AL - And early five-run deficit was too big to overcome on Thursday night, as the Smokies fell to the Barons, 5-3 at Regions Park. The loss, combined with a win from Chattanooga, drops the Smokies to one game out of first place in the Second Half Northern Division with four games left to play.

LHP Brooks Raley (8-10) fell into trouble early against Birmingham, allowing two runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. With two men on and one out, Jon Gilmore's double to left field plated both runs to put the Barons up 2-0. In the second inning, Raley yielded another run, as Tyler Kuhn came around to score on a double off the bat of Brandon Short, giving Birmingham a 3-0 lead. With one out in the third inning, Raley walked Josh Phegley before surrendering a two-run homer to Seth Loman, and the Barons had a 5-0 lead after three innings.

The Smokies were shut down by RHP Terry Doyle (7-5), who held Tennessee scoreless through the first five innings and at one point, retired 11 straight batters. The Smokies struck for a run in the sixth inning as Nelson Perez led off the frame with a double to left field and would later score on an RBI groundout by Jim Adduci. In the eighth inning, the Smokies scored two more runs and loaded the bases to chase Doyle from the game. However, Tennessee's rally ended when Josh Vitters grounded out to RHP Nate Jones to end the inning and strand the bases loaded.

Doyle picked up the win for Birmingham after allowing three runs on six hits and striking out six over 7.2 innings of work. For the Smokies, six of their seven hits came off the bats of Jae-Hoon Ha and Perez, who had three hits each.

The Smokies and Barons will play the second game of their series on Friday at 8:05 PM. RHP Ryan Searle (5-3, 3.) while Birmingham will hand the ball to LHP Hector Santiago (7-5, 3.61). The Smokies return home to Smokies Park for the Southern League Disivion Series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday, September 8, at 5:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from September 1, 2011


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