SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Offense Rallies for Win over Barons

July 26, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Tennessee Smokies snapped their nine-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Birmingham Barons on Thursday in Birmingham.

Tennessee jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. With two outs and no one on base, Zack Short hit a double to right field. Yasiel Balaguert followed with an RBI-single to center field that scored Short to give Tennessee a 1-0 lead.

The Smokies added to the lead in the top of the third, thanks to Balaguert again. After Short doubled to start the inning, Balaguert followed him up with a double of his own that scored Short and made it 2-0. The next batter, Eddy Martinez, singled and, after Balaguert was thrown out at the plate, scored on a single from P.J. Higgins.

Connor Myers got in on the action in the top of the fourth inning to give the Smokies a 4-0 lead. Myers tripled to start off the inning, his first of the season, and a sacrifice fly from Charcer Burks scored him. Birmingham responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that cut the Smokies lead in half, making it 4-2.

With the score 4-3 in the top of the eighth, the Smokies added insurance runs. Ian Rice walked to start the inning and Higgins singled. After a double play that got Rice out at third, Myers singled home Higgins to make it 5-3. Burks was the next batter and singled as well and then scored when an error allowed two runs to cross home plate.

Matt Swarmer started on the mound for the Smokies. Swarmer pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk. He also struck out five in the start. Daury Torrez entered with two outs in the sixth and threw 1.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits while striking out one. Scott Effross pitched the final 2.0 innings, giving up no runs on three hits.

Tennessee and Birmingham will meet for the final game of the series on Friday night at 8:05 p.m. ET. Thomas Hatch (6-4, 4.05 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Smokies and Birmingham is going to send Bernardo Flores (2-2, 2.35 ERA) to the bump. Hatch is coming off 5.0 innings of one-run baseball against Biloxi, where he allowed just two hits. He is holding batters to a .236 batting average in the month of July.

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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Southern League Stories from July 26, 2018


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