SANDERS STRIKES OUT SIX, BUT SMOKIES FALL 6-3 FRIDAY
Maldonado doubles, drives in two in loss
SEVIERVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Smokies (10-22) fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas (17-16), 6-3 Friday night at Smokies Stadium, their eighth straight loss. RHP Cam Sanders (L, 0-2) turned in a solid start for Smokies and Chase Strumpf doubled twice in the loss.
Rocket City struck first, Izzy Wilson hit a three-run home run off Sanders in the second inning to put Rocket City up 3-0. Sanders allowed three runs on three hits in 4.2 innings, he also had six strikeouts.
The Smokies scored twice in the fourth inning. Grayson Byrd singled, then Brennen Davis walked ahead of Nelson Maldonado’s two-out, two-run double to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Rocket City added a run in the sixth on a throwing error to extend the Trash Pandas lead to 4-2. In the ninth, Ibandel Isabel hit a two-run home run to break the game open.
Darius Hill’s RBI single in the ninth scoring Connor Myers rounded out the scoring. LHP Brandon Hughes struck out two in 1.1 relief innings. RHP Ethan Roberts had two strikeouts in two scoreless innings pitched.
The Smokies and Trash Pandas continue their series at Smokies Stadium on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7 PM. RHP Erich Uelmen (0-3, 5.06) will face off against LHP Reid Detmers (1-2, 3.60). Fans can hear all Smokies games by going to https://www.milb.com/tennessee/fans/audio-listen-live.
The Summer Fireworks Series presented by Coors Light and Pepsi continues Saturday night. 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.
