SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Win Opener in Jackson

Published on June 3, 2018 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


JACKSON, TN  -  The Smokies defeated the Jackson Generals 4-0 on Sunday in game one of the series. Tennessee improved to 29-26 on the season with the win.

Michael Rucker received the start for the Smokies and had his best performance of the season. Rucker pitched six innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Rucker also struck out four on the way to his fifth win of the season.

After three scoreless innings to start the game, the Smokies broke through in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Jason Vosler tripled to center. Yasiel Balaguert was the next batter and singled to right that put the Smokies up 1-0.

The Smokies added to their lead in the seventh inning when Eddy Martinez reached on an error and Zack Short walked with two outs. Jesse Hodges singled in Martinez to give the Smokies a two run lead and Vimael Machin singled as well to make it 3-0. Machin had three hits in the game to bump his average up to .393 in Double-A. Trent Giambrone capped off the scoring in the seventh with a single that scored Hodges. Giambrone had two hits in the game.

Jake Stinnett replaced Rucker in the seventh and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. Stinnett got into trouble in the eighth but Dakota Mekkes got the final two outs to get out of the jam. Mekkes pitched a scoreless ninth inning as well to close the game out and record his eighth save of the season.

The Smokies and Generals will be back in action on Monday, beginning at 5:05 p.m. ET. The first game will be a resumption of the April 15 game that was postponed with the Generals leading 4-3 in the third inning. The second game will follow at 7:05. Trevor Clifton is the projected starter in game two for the 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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Southern League Stories from June 3, 2018


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