SMOKIES DROP FINALE, SPLIT WITH SHUCKERS
Smokies take no-hitter into seventh in loss
SEVIERVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Smokies (7-10) dropped the series finale to the Biloxi Shuckers (8-10) Sunday afternoon at Smokies Stadium. The Smokies led 1-0 and took a combined no-hitter one out into the seventh inning, before falling 7-3. The Smokies and Shuckers split their six game series.
The Smokies opened the scoring in the third inning. Connor Myers worked a one-out walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Christian Donahue’s RBI infield single.
Smokies starter, RHP Matt Swarmer was fantastic. He tossed five no-hit innings, walked two, and matched a career-high with nine strikeouts. LHP Ryan Lawlor pitched a hitless sixth to keep the no-hitter going. After LHP Wyatt Short (L, 0-1) recorded the first out in the seventh, he surrendered a game-tying solo home run to to Alexander Palma.
A Brent Diaz grand slam later in the seventh gave Biloxi their first lead. In the bottom half, Christopher Morel hit a two-run home run to cut the Smokies deficit to 5-3. Two bases loaded walks in the eighth allowed the Shuckers to add two runs and round out the scoring at 7-3.
Hill finished 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Morel’s two-run home run was his third of the season, he now has a team-high 14 RBI. RHP Ben Leeper did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings in relief.
The Smokies hit the road for 12 straight games. They begin a series at AT&T Field against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM. RHP Erich Uelmen (0-1, 4.05) will start the opener for the Smokies. Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES
The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the eight-team Double-A South League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America’s national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.
