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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Take Game One from Lookouts

June 28, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Smokies were victorious in their first home game of the second half with a 7-5 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts. Ian Rice was the hero as he hit a go-ahead two run home run in the bottom the eighth.

Michael Rucker received the start for the Smokies and continued his dominance over his last 10 starts. The right-hander pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, and striking out nine. Rucker is 5-1 over his last 10 starts.

The Smokies scored first for the third straight game as they knocked in three runs in the bottom of the first. Vimael Machin almost hit his second home run of the season as he hit one off the top of the wall in left field for a double. Zack Short was the next batter and he made it 2-0 on the first pitch of the at bat, blasting his ninth home run of the season. With two outs, Trent Giambrone joined in on the home run derby as he hit his 10th of the season to make it 3-0.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Smokies added to it in the bottom of the fifth inning. Charcer Burks was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to third on a botched pickoff attempt. Burks scored when Trey Martin hit a sacrifice fly to center. Machin was the next batter and, after almost hitting one out in the first, hit his second home run of the season to right field to make it 5-2 Smokies.

Scott Effross came into the game in the seventh to replace Rucker and pitched an inning, giving up one run. Wyatt Short made his first appearance at Smokies Stadium in the eighth inning and pitched an inning, giving up the tying run.

Tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Machin worked a walk to get on base with one out. After Short was called out on a bunt, Rice hit his fifth home run of the year over the wall in center to put Tennessee up 7-5. It was Rice's third game-winning home run in the last five home games. Jake Stinnett closed the game out in the ninth for his second save of the season.

The Smokies and Lookouts will be back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. Oscar De La Cruz is the projected starter for the Smokies as he looks for his first win of the second half. The Lookouts will counter with Sean Poppen.

Written by Rob Harvey, 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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