Smokies' Win Streak Ends at Seven with 14-5 Loss Monday
Published on June 11, 2012 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
KODAK, Tenn. - Seeking their eighth consecutive win, the Tennessee Smokies were unable to match the Mississippi Braves' hit parade, suffering a 14-5 loss Monday night at Smokies Park. The Smokies' record dropped to 31-34. Mississippi improves to 27-38.
Tennessee got the 2,795 fans in attendance on their feet in the first inning. Jim Adduci reached first on an infield single, and come home on Welington Castillo's second home run of his rehab stint. With two out, the Smokies loaded the bases, but Braves starter David Hale was able to strike out Elliot Soto to end the early threat.
Smokies starting pitcher Trey McNutt started out looking unhittable, getting the Braves hitters in order in the first. Mississippi figured McNutt out in the second and third innings though, scoring five times on five hits to jump out to a 5-1 lead.
Mississippi scored four more runs in the fourth inning off McNutt, before he was relieved by Jeff Antigua. McNutt (4-5) ended the night with 3.1 innings pitched, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits while striking out two.
Down 9-2 in the fourth, Junior Lake hit his fourth home run of the season to cut Mississippi's lead to 9-3.
Tennessee would take advantage of an error by Braves second basemen Phil Gosselin to score another run in the fifth. Rebel Ridling and Matt Cerda walked to lead off the inning and Elliot Soto grounded to short, and Gosselin's errant throw would score Ridling to narrow the gap to 9-4.
The Braves would score two more in the seventh against reliever Brian Schlitter to extend Mississippi's advantage to 11-4.
Smokies All-Star reliever Kevin Rhoderick would come in to game in the eighth inning. He allowed a base hit, but kept the Braves from scoring and extended his streak of not allowing an earned run to 15 appearances (20.1 innings).
Tennessee scored a single run in the eighth inning to bring the score to 11-5. Pinch hitter Nate Samson doubled and came around to score on a double by Justin Bour, who hit I his league-leading 49th RBI.
The Braves would score three more runs in the ninth off Samson, who was pitching for the first time of his professional career, to give them a 14-5 lead.
Tennessee didn't go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Mike Burgess and Soto got on base with back-to-back singles. Junior Lake loaded the bases with a walk and Adduci scored Burgess and Soto with a two-run single to make it a 14-7 game.
Following an off day on Tuesday, the Smokies will close out the first half with a five-game series with the Birmingham Barons at Smokies Park. Tennessee will start RHP Dae-Eun Rhee (3-2, 5.29) and he will be opposed by RHP Cameron Bayne (5-5, 5.78). For tickets and more information call (865) 286-2300 or visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.
Southern League Stories from June 11, 2012
- Stars Swept in Doubleheader, Series by BayBears - Huntsville Stars
- Smokies' Win Streak Ends at Seven with 14-5 Loss Monday - Knoxville Smokies
- Big Inning Boosts Biscuits Past Lookouts - Montgomery Biscuits
- Generals Blank Suns 8-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- M-Braves Smash Smokies 14-7 - Mississippi Braves
- Stars Host Biscuits for Five-Game Homestand Starting Wednesday - Huntsville Stars
- Patterson Sent To Disabled List; Ortiz Transferred To Jamestown - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- David Hale, Mississippi's Eighth 2012 All-Star Selected - Mississippi Braves
- Marte Tabbed with SL Hitter of the Week Honors - Mobile BayBears
- Generals Game Notes - Jackson Generals
- Hultzen Named League's Top Pitcher for Second Straight Week - Jackson Generals
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