SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Rally Back to Split Doubleheader in Biloxi

Published on May 2, 2016 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


BILOXI, Miss. - After Biloxi captured game one with a 3-2 victory, the Shuckers jumped out to a 1-0 in the nightcap. However, the Smokies would tie it in the fifth and win it in extras. LF Mark Zagunis and PH Kelly Dugan clobbered home runs in the eighth inning, as the Smokies won the second game, 4-1, at MGM Park on Monday night.

With the twinbill split, Tennessee finishes their ten-game road trip with a 7-3 mark and a 13-12 overall record. The split gives Biloxi its fifth straight series win to start the year and a 17-7 total clip.

Zagunis (1-2, R, HR, RBI, BB) led off the top of the eighth inning with the Smokies and Shuckers tied at one in the nightcap. On a 3-2 pitch, the former Virginia Tech Hokie clocked a deep fly ball to straight away center. The drive carried over the 400-foot marker and onto the batter's eye for a solo home run. The blast, Zagunis' first at the Double-A level, put Tennesse ahead, 2-1.

The Smokies managed to tack on some insurance runs later in the frame. 1B Ryan Dent (1-3, R) followed with a single to right and with one out Dugan (1-1, R, HR, 2 RBI) dug in to pinch-hit. The left-handed slugger thwacked a full count offering of the scoreboard in left-center field for a two-run homer. The clout, Dugan's first hit and homer in the Cubs' organization, put Tennessee in front, 4-1.

RHP Corey Black (1.0 IP, BB) came on to record the final three out in the bottom of the frame. Following a one-out walk, the 24-year old induced a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play to seal the Smokies' triumph.

Neither starter factored into the decision in the nightcap. Shuckers' LHP Wei-Chung Wang (6.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) tossed a quality start with 6.2 innings of three-hit, one-run ball. His counterpart, fellow Taiwanese countrymen RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2.1 IP, H, SO) had a much shorter night. The right-hander allowed just one hit over 2.1 innings, but exited with an apparent injury in the third.

RHP David Garner (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 SO) threw two scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first Double-A win. Black (1.0 IP, BB) tallied the final three outs for his second save of the season. RHP Tristan Archer (1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 SO) suffered his first loss of the year.

In game one, Tennessee hopped out to 2-0 lead in the second inning. RF Billy McKinney (1-2, R, BB) started the frame with a walk and proceeded to steal second base. After a single by Zagunis (1-3, SO) pushed him to third, Dugan (0-2, RBI, SO) drove in the runner with a sacrifice fly to left to put Tennessee up, 1-0.

After Zagunis was caught stealing third, C David Freitas (0-2, R, BB) drew a free pass and SS Carlos Penalver (1-2, 3B, RBI, BB) stepped up and smacked a line drive into the right-center field gap. Freitas came home to score on the 21-year old's triple, as the Smokies grabbed a 2-0 lead.

Biloxi would come back to score three in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good. C Jacob Nottingham (1-2, R, 2B, BB) reached on an error to start the inning and with one out RF Garrett Cooper (1-3, R, 2B, RBI) cranked a rocket into right-center. The Shuckers' backstop scored all the way from first on the RBI double to trim the Smokies lead to 2-1.

After the two-bagger, SS Nick Shaw (0-1, R, 2 BB) walked and 3B Brandon Macias (0-2) was hit by a pitch. Following a strike out, LF Kyle Wren (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) came through with the go-ahead blow. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket lined a double into the left-center field gap. Two runners came home, as Biloxi took a 3-2 edge.

Shuckers' starter RHP Javi Salas (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO) did not pitch long enough to qualify for the victory. LHP Stephen Peterson (1.0 IP, H, 2 SO) threw a scoreless frame in relief of the right-hander and was awarded his fourth win of the season. RHP Jaye Chapman (1.0 IP) pitched a three-up, three-down seventh for his Southern League-leading tenth save of the year. Smokies' starter RHP Tyler Skulina (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) allowed three unearned runs and suffered his second defeat of the campaign.

C Victor Caratini (2-3, SO) picked up a pair of knocks in the nightcap for Tennessee, while Zagunis (2-6, R, R, HR, RBI, BB, SO) and McKinney (2-5, 2 R, BB, SO) combined for a pair of hits between the two contests. Wren (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) tallied a pair of hits for Biloxi in game one, while Cooper (3-7, R, 2B, RBI) combined for three hits in the twinbill.

After enjoying an off day tomorrow, Tennessee will return home to take on the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Mississippi Braves, in game one of a five-game series on Wednesday night at Smokies Stadium. LHP Rob Zastryzny (2-1, 4.34 ERA) is expected to make the start for the Smokies. RHP Andrew Thurman (0-2, 7.82 ERA) is projected to take the ball for the M-Braves.

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 6:50 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Smokies Stadium. Wednesday night's broadcast can be heard exclusively online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps.

Wednesday's contest will be the first Smoky Mountain Popcorn All-You-Can-Eat Wednedsay of the season. Fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, baked beans, potato chips, ice cream sandwiches and Pepsi products for less than $25 apiece. Wednesday's matchup will also be the Smokies' annual Peanut Free Night contest presented by the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Single-game tickets, as well as multi-voucher and season ticket packages are still available, and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from May 2, 2016


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