Stars Rally from Four Down to Beat Smokies
Published on April 15, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
Jason Rogers hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th as the Huntsville Stars rallied from four runs down to defeat the Tennessee Smokies 8-7 at Joe Davis Stadium. The loss ends the three-game win streak for the Smokies and drops them back under .500 at 5-6.
The Stars stormed back with four runs in the bottom of the 8th to erase a four-run deficit and tie the game. Jason Rogers brought in the first run of the inning with an RBI single and two batters later, Mike Walker delivered a two-run single to bring Huntsville within a run. Rene Tosoni came up next and tied the game at 7-7 with a groundrule double to deep center field.
Tennessee's bullpen, which has been very reliable so far this season, could not hold the lead. Tony Zych and Trey McNutt combined to allow five earned runs in 2.2 innings.
The Smokies jumped on the scoreboard early with a run in the opening half inning. Matt Szczur led off with a single and stole second base. With one out, Szczur scored on Jae-Hoon Ha's RBI groundrule double for a 1-0 lead.
Huntsville tied up the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Brock Kjeldgaard led off with a triple and scored on a Mike Walker sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Tennessee got the lead back in the top of the 5th courtesy of an RBI groundout by Rafael Lopez that scored Rubi Silva. Silva added insurance runs in the top of the 6th inning as he cracked a three-run home run, his second of the season, to make it 5-1 Smokies.
Leading 5-3 in the top of the 7th, the Smokies tacked on two more runs to extend their lead. After Szczur scored on a wild pitch, Silva delivered again lining an RBI single to right field to score Ha and make it 7-3. Silva finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
The Smokies and Stars continue their five-game series tomorrow night at 7:43 p.m. ET when Tennessee sends right-hander Alberto Cabrera (1-1, 4.50 ERA) to the mound against Huntsville righty Ariel Pena (0-1, 7.11 ERA) at Joe Davis Stadium.
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