
Smokies Fall to Pensacola
September 2, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies fell to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-3 on Sunday night at Smokies Stadium. Eddy Martinez led the Smokies offensively with a two-run home run.
Down 2-0, the Smokies cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. Jeffrey Baez walked with two outs in the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jesse Hodges was the next batter and he singled to left center field, scoring Baez to make it a 2-1 game. Tennessee loaded the bases later in the inning but a groundout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Smokies took the lead. Wynton Bernard reached base with two outs on a single and stole second base. Martinez was up next, and he delivered with his 12th home run over the fence in left field to give Tennessee a 3-2 lead.
Michael Rucker got the start for the Smokies and pitched five innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four. Rucker got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth but the Smokies sent in Scott Effross with the bases loaded and no outs. Effross struck out the first batter and got the next batter to ground into an inning ending double play. However, the Blue Wahoos regained the lead in the seventh on a two-run home run off of Effross.
Wyatt Short was the next arm out of the bullpen, and he pitched a scoreless eighth inning before handing the ball over to Preston Morrison who pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Smokies and Blue Wahoos will play one more time on Monday, the last game of the season, at Smokies Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. Keegan Thompson is the projected starter for the Smokies as he looks for win number six. Thompson has had success at home this season as he is 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA at Smokies Stadium. The Blue Wahoos will counter with Wyatt Strahan.
Written by Rob Harvey, 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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Southern League Stories from September 2, 2018
- Smokies Fall to Pensacola - Knoxville Smokies
- BayBears Drop Both Games of Sunday Doubleheader - Mobile BayBears
- Biscuits Balance Offense, Pitching in DH Sweep - Montgomery Biscuits
- Wahoos Clinch Playoff Berth in 4-3 Win over Smokies - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Barons Pick up 6-3 Win over Biloxi - Biloxi Shuckers
- Barons Break Through, Top Shuckers 6-3 - Birmingham Barons
- Close Game, Tough Loss - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Donatella Flattens Chattanooga in Third Straight Quality Start - Jackson Generals
- Prince, Bullpen Push Generals Past Lookouts, 7-5 - Jackson Generals
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