Hill goes 2-for-5, drives in only run
SEVIERVILLE, TN – The Rocket City Trash Pandas (18-16) defeated the Tennessee Smokies (10-23) 7-1 Saturday night at Smokies Stadium. The Smokies have now lost nine straight games.
The Smokies got the scoring started in the first. Brennen Davis walked to begin the inning, moved to third on Carlos Sepulveda’s single, and scored on Darius Hill’s single.
RHP Erich Uelmen (L, 0-4) struck out four and did not allow a hit through the first four innings. In the fifth, Mitch Nay led off with a solo home run off Uelmen. In the sixth, Dalton Pompey doubled and scored on David MacKinnon’s single to give the Trash Pandas a 2-1 lead. Uelmen struck out six in five innings Saturday.
Rocket City scored three more times in the sixth once Uelmen was pulled. One run scored on an errant pick-off throw and two more scored on Torii Hunter Jr’s double. Pompey scored in the seventh on a throwing error to extend the Trash Pandas lead to 7-1.
RHP Cayne Ueckert pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts in the loss. Darius Hill finished 2-for-5 and drove in his team leading 21st run. Nelson Maldonado also had two hits. Chase Strumpf and Davis both doubled.
The Smokies and Trash Pandas conclude their series at Smokies Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2 PM. RHP Javier Assad (0-3, 6.33) will face off against RHP Kyle Tyler (3-1, 2.45). Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.
Tickets for the remainder of the homestand are available and can be purchased online, over the phone, or by visiting the box office.
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.
