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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Rally, But Biscuits Prevail, 6-5

April 20, 2016 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE - Smokies' 2B Chesny Young collected a game-high four hits and drove in the match-tying run in the bottom of the eighth, as Tennessee took a 4-3 lead. However, the lead was short lived as SS Willy Adames' three-run homer in the top of the ninth put Montgomery ahead for good in the Biscuits' 6-5 win on Wednesday afternoon at Smokies Stadium in front of 2,263 fans.

With the loss, the Smokies drop to 6-8 through 14 games and will play their third rubber match of the season tomorrow afternoon. Montgomery's victory puts them back above .500 at 7-6 on the year.

After Tennessee jumped ahead 4-3 in the eighth, the Biscuits immediately struck back against RHP David Garner (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO). 3B Kean Wong (1-4, R, BB, SO) started the frame by reaching on a five-pitch walk and RF Jake Bauers (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, HR, RBI, BB) followed with a double into left-center.

With runners at second and third, Adames jumped ahead in the count 3-0 and jumped on a fastball from the right-hander. The 20-year old deposited the pitch into the second level of the Calhoun's at the Yard Pavilion for a three-run homer, his second of the year, to put the Biscuits' back ahead, 6-4.

Tennessee put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but could not even the game up. With two down, C Taylor Davis (1-5, 2 R, SO) poked a single to center and moved up to second on defensive indifference. LF Bijan Rademacher (1-4, 2B, RBI, BB, SO) pulled Tennessee to within a tally thanks to a run-scoring double, but that was as close as the Smokies would get. 1B Anthony Giansanti (0-1, SO) was punched out looking by RHP Brad Schreiber (1.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, SO) to close out the game.

The Smokies trailed, 3-1, entering the bottom of the eighth before rallying to take its only lead of the day. Davis led off the inning and reached on an error before moving to second on a single by C David Freitas (1-2, 2 BB). After the backstop was lifted for a pinch-runner in Giansanti, DH Ryan Dent (0-3, R, BB, 3 SO) drew a free pass to load the bases.

Biscuits' LHP Adam Kolarek (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO) was able to strike out SS Carlos Penalver (0-3, R, BB, SO) for the second out of the frame before Tennessee jumped ahead. The southpaw proceeded to plunk CF Jacob Hannemann (0-4, RBI, SO) to force home a run to trim the Smokies deficit to 3-2.

The next hitter, Young (4-4, RBI, BB), slapped a slow roller towards second and 2B Tommy Coyle's throw was late and wide. Giansanti scored on the Mercer product's single, while Dent hustled home from second on the throwing error to put the Smokies in front, 4-3.

Montgomery struck first on the scoreboard on Wednesday, as Bauers clocked a solo shot, his second of the season, to right-center in the fourth to put the Biscuits in the lead, 1-0. Montgomery added two more tallies in the frame on a RBI double by CF Granden Goetzman (2-5, R, 2B, RBI) and a run-scoring fielder's choice by LF Johnny Field (0-5, RBI) to jump ahead, 3-0.

The Smokies accrued their opening tally against the Montgomery bullpen in the seventh. Following a Penalver walk and a Young single, RF Billy McKinney (1-4, 2B, RBI, BB SO) ripped a double off the right-center field to drive home Penalver and cut the then-Biscuits' lead to 3-1. Young was gunned down at the plate trying to score from first on the play.

Neither starter factored into the decision on Wednesday afternoon. Smokies' RHP Tyler Skulina (3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, SO) walked four in 3.2 innings and exited with his club behind, 2-0. Biscuits' RHP Ryne Stanek (4.0 IP, H, 4 BB, 5 SO) allowed just one hit, but walked four and threw 87 pitches over four innings.

Kolarek (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO) suffered the blown save, but tallied his first win of the year for Montgomery. Schreiber (1.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, SO) surrendered a run in the ninth, but garnered his second save of the year and the series. Garner (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO) was saddled with his first blown save and loss of the season.

Young (4-4, RBI, BB) reached base all five times he stepped to the plate on Wednesday and pieced together the Smokies' first four-hit game of the season. Rademacher (1-4, RBI, BB, SO) extended his season-opening on-base streak to 13 straight games with a walk and a double. The 24-year old has reached in 27 straight contests dating back to August 24 of last season.

Bauers (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, HR, RBI, BB) posted a team-high three hits, all for extra bases, in the win for Montgomery. C Mike Marjama (2-5, 2B) and Goetzman (2-5, R, 2B, RBI, SO) also compiled multi-hit performances in the triumph.

The Smokies will try to bounce back tomorrow night and attempt to capture their first series of the year as they square off in their final game against Montgomery. RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (0-1, 2.57 ERA) is slated to toe the rubber for the Smokies, while LHP Chris Kirsch (1-0, 0.82 ERA) is projected to get the ball for Montgomery.

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 11:20 a.m. ET, leading up to the 11:30 a.m. ET first pitch from Smokies Stadium. Thursday afternoon's broadcast can be heard exclusively online at SmokiesBaseball.com or via the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps.

Thursday's matchup will be the Smokies' second Health and Safety Day of the season, presented by Kohl's Cares and East Tennessee Children's Hospital. East Tennessee youngsters are invited to take in a game, in addition to learn about how to maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle through a fun and educational pre-game program.

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 April 20, 2016


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