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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Tennessee's Comeback Thwarted in 4-3 Defeat to Braves

July 21, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


KODAK - Mississippi starting pitcher Jason Hursh shut down Tennessee batters with six shutout frames while inducing three double plays and second baseman Jose Peraza tallied three hits and three steals, while Smokies center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha's ninth-inning three-run homer was too little too late in the Braves' 4-3 victory on Monday evening at Smokies Stadium.

The defeat drops Tennessee's record to 15-16 in the second half, in addition to a 48-52 overall mark. Mississippi's win improved their tally to 17-14 since the midpoint of the year, as well as a 56-44 overall clip.

Hursh (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 SO) was solid in his six shutout innings of work, yielding four hits while fanning two to earn his eighth victory of the season. The right-hander allowed a batter to reach base in each of his first five frames, yet did not allow a run thanks to a trio of rally-killing double plays in the first, second and third innings.

The relief corps trio of Ryne Harper (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO), Jorge Reyes (1.0 IP, 1 BB) and Ryan Kelly supported Hursh, with Harper and Reyes receiving their seventh and first holds, respectively, while Kelly allowed the longball but was able to snap the potential peril after to preserve the win. Smokies starter Matt Loosen (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) suffered the defeat to fall to 4-5 on the season after relinquishing two earned runs on five hits in five innings.

The Braves struck first thanks to small ball with a single tally in the opening frame. Peraza continued his tear of the Southern League with a leadoff single to left, stole second and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, before coming across on LF Cedric Hunter's ground-rule double to right to put Mississippi ahead.

That advantage would then double to two courtesy of a run in the fifth. Once again, it was Peraza who would get things started with a two-out base knock. After stealing second, the infielder would score on CF Kyle Wren's two-bagger to left to make it a 2-0 M-Braves margin.

Mississippi would once again double their lead in the final frame. SS Gustavo Nunez started it all with a double to right and advanced to third on a groundout, while pinch hitter Mycal Jones walked to bring up Peraza, who brought in Nunez with an RBI base hit to right. Jones would then steal home to cap the scoring on a pickoff attempt to first base to cap the scoring at 4-0.

Tennessee would then thwart the Braves' shutout hopes in the ninth with Ha's late longball and make it a one-run contest. Mota slapped a single to left to begin the comeback attempt, while pinch hitter Luis Flores reached on a base knock to bring up Ha, who slammed his second roundtripper of the season to left to cut the deficit to one. Kelly, however, would bear down after the tying run reached base to force a groundout to end the Smokies' scare.

Smokies batters reached base to begin the first, second and third frames, however they were unable to put together a rally thanks to the pitcher's best friend. It was Hursh himself who started a 1-6-3 twin killing in the first, while 1B Rich Poythress snagged a liner and tagged first in the second and a conventional 6-4-3 double play stunted the Smokies' chances in the third.

Tennessee would also threaten in the seventh, with C Charlie Cutler and Mota clubbing back-to-back singles to start the frame. However, following a strikeout and sacrifice bunt that placed the tying run in scoring position, Harper was able to induce a groundout to qualm the Tennessee threat.

Peraza (3-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3 SB) and Wren (2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) led the Braves' bats with multi-hit games, while Mota (3-4, 1 R) and Soler (2-3) and Mota (3-4, 1 R) collected three and two knocks, respectively. Peraza has smoked Southern League hurlers through his first 26 games with the club, recording a .368 mark (42-114) in that span.

The two teams are scheduled to square off in game two of the series Tuesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Tennessee is expected to give the nod to RHP Corey Black (5-6, 2.63), the Southern League's leader in earned-run average, while Mississippi is anticipated to counter with RHP Greg Ross (3-1, 1.34).

Every dog has his day at Smokies Stadium on Tuesday evening with Tail Waggin' Tuesday, presented by Frontline Heartgard. Man's best friend is more than welcome to join their owners to sit out on the berm and take in a beautiful evening of baseball in East Tennessee.

Tickets for that game and the remainder of the Smokies' 2014 home schedule are still available and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 286-2300.

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Southern League Stories from July 21, 2014


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