SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Shutout Blue Wahoos in Win

Published on May 26, 2018 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - After dropping two straight, the Smokies got back on track on Saturday night with a 5-0 win over the Blue Wahoos. The win put the Smokies at 25-23 on the season and 4.5 games out of first place.

The Cubs No. 3 prospect, Oscar De La Cruz, took the mound for the Smokies and returned to his winning ways, picking up his fifth win of the season. De La Cruz pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on five hits and striking out seven. With the start, De La Cruz lowered his ERA to under five.

The Smokies got on the board first, striking for a run in the third. Third baseman Jesse Hodges hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot, that put the Smokies up 1-0.

Hodges was at it again in the fourth inning. A walk to Ian Rice and single by Eddy Martinez put runners on first and second for Hodges. Coming through again, Hodges doubled in Rice to give the Smokies a 2-0 lead. Hodges finished the game with three hits and improved his average to .273. Later in the inning, De La Cruz helped himself out as he grounded into a double play but a run scored from it.

Rice kept the scoring going in the top of the fifth. Trent Giambrone singled to start the inning and with two outs, Rice hit a home run to left, his second of the year, to put the Smokies up 5-0.

Scott Effross replaced De La Cruz in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one. Jake Stinnett finished the game out for the Smokies in the ninth, striking out two in the inning.

The Smokies and Blue Wahoos will be back in action on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. ET in the final game of the series. Michael Rucker is the projected starter as he is looking for his fifth win of the season.

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 May 26, 2018


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