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The Montgomery Biscuits came into Covenant Health Park for the second game of the evening May 23 and delivered a knockout blow to the Smokies, claiming the series with a 2-1 seven-inning victory on Grateful Dead Night in downtown Knoxville.
The series, like the second game, has been shortened.
A May 23 doubleheader already was scheduled for Saturday to account for the Savannah Bananas being at the stadium Thursday night. But with an early rainout pushing the finish of Friday's game to the following day, the Smokies still played two games Saturday but had to push the second half of the prescheduled doubleheader to a later date in Montgomery.
The Smokies recorded eight hits in the home loss and struggled with runners on base after defeating the Biscuits 2-1 earlier in the evening. With a Sunday afternoon game still to play, the Biscuits lead the series 3-1 − enough to secure a series win in the shortened five-game set.
Alex Ramirez went 3-for-3 at the plate, a strong follow to his 3-for-4 performance in the first half of the doubleheader. Montgomery and Knoxville posted three combined runs in the first inning, starting with a Jadher Areinamo single that put the Biscuits ahead 2-0.
Andy Garriola responded with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame to score Carter Trice and cut Knoxville's deficit in half.
Smokies starter Tyler Schlaffer allowed five Biscuits to reach base across the first two innings of the game. But as the pitcher dialed in, the Smokies' bats simmerer.
Over the final three innings pitched, Schlaffer only allowed one baserunner on a two-out single in the fourth, which he erased with a strikeout. Knoxville's right-hander struck out six batters with 77 pitches and only allowed one earned run.
Montgomery starter Gary Gill Hill kept Knoxville at bay with runners on base. Gill Hill pitched five innings and stranded seven batters for the Smokies, who went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The lone hit with a runner in scoring position was a first-inning single from Jefferson Rojas, the predecessor to Garriola's sacrifice fly.
Despite getting tagged with the loss, Schlaffer pitched four innings of scoreless baseball. He retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings.
Schlaffer finished with four hits allowed and one walk. He also hit a batter in his five innings pitched. The Biscuits scored one earned run (two runs total) off the right-hander.
The Smokies are 22-21 on the season after dropping the series to the Biscuits.
Southern League North standings (as of 9:20 p.m. ET on May 23)
Southern League South standings (as of 9:20 p.m. ET on May 23)
The Smokies are down 3-1 in the series against Montgomery with one game remaining at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 23. The first 2,000 fans will get a free Moises Ballesteros bobblehead.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies can't score, lose to Biscuits at Covenant Health Park
Continue reading...
The series, like the second game, has been shortened.
A May 23 doubleheader already was scheduled for Saturday to account for the Savannah Bananas being at the stadium Thursday night. But with an early rainout pushing the finish of Friday's game to the following day, the Smokies still played two games Saturday but had to push the second half of the prescheduled doubleheader to a later date in Montgomery.
The Smokies recorded eight hits in the home loss and struggled with runners on base after defeating the Biscuits 2-1 earlier in the evening. With a Sunday afternoon game still to play, the Biscuits lead the series 3-1 − enough to secure a series win in the shortened five-game set.
Alex Ramirez went 3-for-3 at the plate, a strong follow to his 3-for-4 performance in the first half of the doubleheader. Montgomery and Knoxville posted three combined runs in the first inning, starting with a Jadher Areinamo single that put the Biscuits ahead 2-0.
Andy Garriola responded with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame to score Carter Trice and cut Knoxville's deficit in half.
Smokies starter Tyler Schlaffer allowed five Biscuits to reach base across the first two innings of the game. But as the pitcher dialed in, the Smokies' bats simmerer.
Over the final three innings pitched, Schlaffer only allowed one baserunner on a two-out single in the fourth, which he erased with a strikeout. Knoxville's right-hander struck out six batters with 77 pitches and only allowed one earned run.
Montgomery starter Gary Gill Hill kept Knoxville at bay with runners on base. Gill Hill pitched five innings and stranded seven batters for the Smokies, who went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The lone hit with a runner in scoring position was a first-inning single from Jefferson Rojas, the predecessor to Garriola's sacrifice fly.
Smokies standout player of the game: Tyler Schlaffer
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Despite getting tagged with the loss, Schlaffer pitched four innings of scoreless baseball. He retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings.
Schlaffer finished with four hits allowed and one walk. He also hit a batter in his five innings pitched. The Biscuits scored one earned run (two runs total) off the right-hander.
Knoxville Smokies record in Southern League North
The Smokies are 22-21 on the season after dropping the series to the Biscuits.
Southern League North standings (as of 9:20 p.m. ET on May 23)
- Chattanooga Lookouts (24-19)
- Rocket City Trash Pandas (23-20)
- Knoxville Smokies (22-21)
- Birmingham Barons (16-26)
Southern League South standings (as of 9:20 p.m. ET on May 23)
- Montgomery Biscuits (23-20)
- Columbus Clingstones (21-21)
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos (21-22)
- Biloxi Shuckers (20-21)
Upcoming games, promotions at Covenant Health Park
The Smokies are down 3-1 in the series against Montgomery with one game remaining at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 23. The first 2,000 fans will get a free Moises Ballesteros bobblehead.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies can't score, lose to Biscuits at Covenant Health Park
Continue reading...
