SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Walk off to Twinbill Sweep of Barons

Published on July 21, 2015 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


KODAK - After holding on to a 3-2 lead in the first game of their doubleheader, Smokies second baseman Bryant Flete slammed a two-run walk-off home run to right field to give Tennessee a 3-1 win in game two and a twinbill sweep over the Birmingham Barons in front of 4,512 fans on Tuesday evening at Smokies Stadium.

With the doubleheader sweep, Tennessee improved their record to 10-14 in the second half, in addition to a 49-44 overall mark. Birmingham dropped to 17-7 since the Southern League's All-Star break, as well as a 50-43 clip throughout the 2015 campaign. With the another crowd over 4,000, the Smokies have now welcomed an average of 4,369 fans this season, which continues to put the club on pace to set a new single-season average attendance record.

Entering the seventh inning even at 1-1 in Tuesday's nightcap, SS Elliot Soto slapped a one-out opposite field double down the right field line to set the scene for Flete. The Venezuela native would proceed to smash the 1-0 offering over the right-center field wall to ensure the sweep and cue the celebration.

The big fly was signifcant in several ways, including the fact that it was the first longball hit by a Smokies player since former C Cael Brockmeyer's solo shot on July 5 against the Birmingham Barons, a span of 13 games. It was also the first home run hit by Flete in his career since the infielder's 2012 campaign.

Ivan Pineyro (7.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO), Tennessee's game two starter, notched a seven-inning complete game victory after allowing a lone earned run on seven hits, adding seven strikeouts to improve to 6-5. Barons starter Tyler Danish (6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO), meanwhile, suffered the loss after tossing a six-plus inning complete game as well to fall to 7-6.

Game one Smokies starter Felix Pena (4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO) set a single-game career-high by fanning ten batters, with his outing including multiple strikeouts in each frame, including a trio of punchouts in the fourth, though he came one out short of receiving a decision. The right-hander's previous high mark of eight had come on two prior occasions, including his most recent last season on August 6, 2014 at Mobile.

Smokies relievers P.J. Francescon (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) and Zac Rosscup (1.0 IP, 3 SO), who is with the Smokies on a Major League Rehab Assignment, combined for the final 2.1 shutout frames of two-hit ball, with Francescon earning the victory and Rosscup his first save. The left-handed hurling Rosscup had joined the Smokies on his rehab assignment earlier in the day, and struck out the side in order in the seventh and final frame as he recovers from left shoulder inflammation.

Tennessee got all the runs they would need in game one with a three-spot in the opening frame. Three consecutive singles from SS Elliot Soto, CF Albert Almora Jr. and LF Bijan Rademacher started the frame and loaded the bases for C Willson Contreras, who lofted a ground-rule double to deep center to plate Soto and Almora Jr., giving the Smokies the early 2-0 advantage. After DH Jacob Rogers was intentionally walked in his first career Double-A plate appearance to load the bases, another newcomer, 3B Jeimer Candelario, beat out a potential double play with one out to keep the inning alive and allow Rademacher to score, extending the lead to 3-0.

Birmingham would make a comeback effort, however, plating two in the fifth. SS Tim Anderson started the rally with a one-out single, and then steal second, before coming across via DH Courtney Hawkins' RBI two-bagger to left to cut the deficit to two. Hawkins would later come plateward thanks to a two-out run-scoring base knock to center from RF Christian Marrero, making it a one-run contest.

The Barons would threaten further in the sixth, yet stellar Tennessee defense would preserve the margin. The tone of the inning would be set with the leadoff hitter in the frame, as 2B Joey DeMichele lifted a fly ball to deep right field, but Smokies RF Billy McKinney would stretch and make the catch over the wall, taking away a homer and keeping it a one-run contest. Later on, C Adrian Nieto tripled with one out, but was kept from scoring thanks to a spectacular diving stop by 1B Wes Darvill on a hard groundball, preventing the would-be tying tally from advancing home.

Contreras (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) was the lone batter from the Smokies to record a multi-hit effort in the contest, while Anderson ( 2-4, R, 3 SB) notched a two-hit game and stole three bases for Birmingham. With Soto (1-3, R) reaching base via his first inning hit, the shortstop extended his on-base streak to 18 contests heading into the nightcap.

Barons starter Myles Jaye (4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO), who had entered the evening leading the Southern League with nine wins suffered the defeat to fall to 9-4. The right-hander had not allowed an earned run over each of his last four starts, and had also totaled four earned runs allowed over his last eight games before surrendering the three tallies in the first inning. Reliever Zach Isler (2.0 IP, SO) supported Jaye with two perfect innings of work to finish the contest for the club.

The Smokies also got the scoring started in the nightcap, plating a single score in the opening inning. LF Jacob Hannemann begant the Tennessee order with a double down the right field line before being immediately brought home via CF Albert Almora Jr.'s run-scoring base hit up the middle, giving the home club the early lead.

Birmingham would strike back, however, knotting the contest at one run apiece in the third. Following two quick outs, Anderson slammed a triple into the left-center field gap to send up 2B Nicky Delmonico, who would drive in Anderson with a line drive single to left to erase the deficit.

Soto (2-3, R, 2B) collected two hits in game two to extend his on-base streak even further to 19 games, while Anderson (2-3, R) and C Rob Brantly (2-3) each tallied two base knocks for the Barons. The 25-year-old Soto during his stretch has hit .xxx (22-68) with 11 runs, three doubles and four RBI, along with 14 walks.

Tennessee will now hit the road to begin a five-game road/home series with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, with the first two matchups of the set taking place down the road in Chattanooga on Wednesday evening. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, with the Smokies slated to give the nod to RHP Pierce Johnson (4-0, 1.27), while LHP Brett Lee (0-4, 4.42) is expected to toe the rubber for the Lookouts.

Following the first two games at AT&T Field the two teams will head to Smokies Stadium for the final three games of the five-game set, with the trio beginning on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. That evening is another Remote Area Medical Friday, which includes a spectacular post-game fireworks show presented Pepsi, Coors Light, Dollywood's Splash Country, WVLT, WIVK and the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The team will also be hosting their second Daddy-Daughter Date Night of the season, with a limited number of ticket packages available that includes two tickets, two meal vouchers, two hats and on-field access for the post-game fireworks show for only $59 dollars. Fans can purchase the special package online at shop.smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

Tickets for that night and all remaining Smokies home games are still available, and can be purchased online at www.smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.

Check out the Knoxville Smokies Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Southern League Stories from July 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central