SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Two First-Inning Home Runs Propel Smokies, 4-3

Published on August 31, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Tennessee Smokies (41-26, 75-61) won their third straight game over the Chattanooga Lookouts (23-44, 58-79) 4-3 Saturday evening, using two first-inning home runs to hang on for the victory despite leaving 12 men on base. Javier Baez finished the evening 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored while right-handed starter Nick Struck earned the win, improving his record to 1-2 (3.95 ERA) with Tennessee.

The Smokies started their scoring early in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara laced a one-out single to left field and Javier Baez followed suit on a mammoth home run over the left field wall to put the Smokies up 2-0. The two-run bomb was Baez's 19 th home run with Tennessee and 36 th. Christian Villanueva launched a solo homer to left field two batters later - his 18 th on the year - and pushed Tennessee's lead to 3-0.

Chattanooga answered back in the bottom of the second with just their second run in the series on a Joc Pederson line-drive home run to right field to cut into the Smokies lead 3-1.

Tennessee extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning on a John Andreoli RBI-single, chasing Lookouts starter Chris Reed (4-11, 3.86), who went four-and-a-third innings while giving up four earned runs on seven hits while walking three batters and striking out just one.

The Lookouts tightened things up on Struck in the home half of the fifth when - with runners at first and second and no outs - Miguel Rojas singled softly to left field to trim the Chattanooga deficit to 4-2. Rafael Ynoa came to the batters box two spots later and cut the Smokies lead on a RBI-groundout, scoring Griff Erickson and making the score 4-3.

A.J. Morris came on in relief of Struck and pitched two scoreless innings. Southpaw Hunter Cervenka struck out the side in the eight inning while Frank Batista pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his 19 th save in 23 attempts.

Dae-Eun Rhee (5-1, 3.16) will make the start for Tennessee Sunday afternoon while the Lookouts will send Zach Lee (10-10, 3.22) to the rubber for his 26 th start of the season. First pitch from AT&T Field is set for 6:15 p.m. EST.

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Southern League Stories from August 31, 2013


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