SL Montgomery Biscuits

Smokies Score Five in Ninth to Beat Biscuits, 5-4

Published on May 9, 2023 under Southern League (SL)
Montgomery Biscuits News Release


KODAK, TN. - After a solo-home run from Greg Jones put the Biscuits (14-14) up 4-0 in the ninth inning, it looked like the game was already over. The Smokies (16-12) rallied with five runs in the final frame to take a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night at Smokies Stadium.

DJ Herz made his first start of the season for Tennessee, but a failed attempt to pickoff Greg Jones and a sacrifice fly from Blake Hunt spoiled the debut as Montgomery took an early 1-0 lead. Sean Hunley retired the side in order on eight pitches to open his sixth start of the season, moving the game into the second inning.

The next three frames were silent for both teams, but the Smokies picked up momentum in the bottom of the third after getting two on base with no outs. Hunley quickly fielded a grounder from Pete Crow-Armstrong in the next at-bat to turn a 1-6-3 double play, and a groundout from Luis Vasquez kept the score at 1-0 entering the next inning.

Herz's day came to an end late in the top of the fourth after allowing the first hit of the game for Montgomery. Chris Kachmar checked in with two outs and escaped a bases-loaded jam with a groundout from Alika Williams. A promising start in the bottom-frame for the Smokies quickly faded after Owen Caissie was caught stealing second and Hunley struck out the next two batters, as the score remained 1-0 entering the fifth inning.

The Biscuits got their second hit of the evening after Ronny Simon singled to second baseman Chase Strumpf off a leadoff bunt, but Simon exited the game after failing to steal second base. Tennessee got two outs in the following at-bats to stay within striking distance, but Hunley continued to dominate after retiring the side on six pitches.

Montgomery started the sixth inning with a leadoff ground-rule double from Hunt and a single from Logan Driscoll. Hunt stole home and Driscoll scored off a sacrifice fly from Heriberto Hernandez to make the score 3-0 before Hunter Bigge relieved Kachmar and closed the frame. Hunley's evening ended after two runners made it to scoring position with two outs, but Jeff Belge squashed the scoring opportunity after striking out Strumpf.

The Biscuits loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but Bigge struck out the next two batters to keep the Smokies within striking distance. A walk and a single put runners on base with no outs for Tennessee, but a flyout along with two strikeouts for Belge in the next three at-bats sent the game into the eighth with the score still 3-0.

Riley Martin (3-1) entered the game for Bigge, and Montgomery opened the top-frame with back-to-back singles. The Smokies needed only one play to send the inning to the bottom-half, as Williams lined into a triple play. Michael Mercado relieved Jeff Belge to start the next frame, and although Vasquez got on base with one out for Tennessee, Caissie grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Jones hit a solo home run over the right field wall to extend the Biscuits lead to four with the Smokies stepping up for one more chance. Graham Spraker took the mound in the ninth for Montgomery, but after loading the bases with no outs, Graeme Stinson (1-2) looked to finish the game. A wild pitch brought in Strumpf to make the score 4-1, Jordan Nwogu was hit by a pitch to cut the lead to two runs, and Luis Verdugo tied the game with a single to Jones at shortstop. Caissie hit a walk-off single to right field, bringing in Nwogu to seal the 5-4 comeback win for Tennessee.

The Biscuits will play the Smokies again on Wednesday, May 10th with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. The projected pitching matchup for tomorrow night pits Cole Wilcox (0-2) for Montgomery against Porter Hodge (0-3) for Tennessee.

The Biscuits return to Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday, May 16th for a six-game series against the Mississippi Braves.

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Southern League Stories from May 9, 2023


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