Smokies Storm Back To Win Suspended Game, Take Game Two 5-3

After building a lead when their game resumed, the Biloxi Shuckers (38-43, 4-10 2nd Half) saw the Tennessee Smokies (44-39, 7-7 2nd Half) come back to take win their suspended game 11-7 before taking a seven-inning game 5-3 on Wednesday night at Smokies Stadium.

Game One

When the game resumed, Biloxi and Tennessee were tied at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning with Gabe Holt on first with no outs. Facing RHP Graham Lawson, Jason Lopez drew a walk and Sal Frelick broke the tie with an RBI single, putting the Shuckers up 2-1. Lawson struck out the next batter, but Andruw Monasterio worked a walk to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Tristen Lutz cleared the bases with a double to right, vaulting the Shuckers to a 5-1 advantage. Noah Campbell capped the scoring with an RBI single up the middle, widening the Biloxi lead to 6-1.

RHP Arnaldo Hernandez tossed two scoreless innings for Biloxi, covering the fifth and sixth. RHP Robbie Hitt came out in the seventh and faced four batters with all of them reaching on two singles, a walk and a triple. RHP Harold Chirino (L, 1-2; BS, 3) entered, but the Smokies next five batters all reached safely, including a go-ahead two-run homer by Alexander Canario, his 13th of the year. All told, the Smokies sent 14 men to the plate in the seventh, scoring 10 runs on nine hits. The 10 runs in an inning ties the most runs allowed in a single inning in Shuckers’ franchise.

Biloxi would get a run back in the top of the eighth inning on a single by Frelick, his second hit of the night, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the Shuckers fell 11-7.

Game Two

As they did in their first game against Tennessee, Biloxi struck for a run in the first inning. Joey Wiemer tripled to right field, his first of the season, and raced in to score on a groundout by Monasterio. Biloxi would load the bases up on a walk, a single by Garrett Mitchell and a fielding error, but left the bases loaded on a fielder’s choice.

Tennessee squared the game on the first offer from LHP Nick Bennett (L, 4-8) as Yonathan Perlaza hit a solo homer to right, making it 1-1. Bennett recorded the next two outs before Chase Strumpf reached on an infield single. Strumpf moved around to third on an error on a pickoff attempt and scored on an RBI single to right by Bryce Ball, giving the Smokies a 2-1 lead.

After Tennessee tagged on another run in the bottom of the second, the Shuckers threatened to tie the game in the top of the third. Monasterio reached on a fielding error and Dillard followed with a single, putting two men on with no outs. Mitchell then grounded out to first, the lone time he was retired on the evening, advancing the runners to second and third with only one out. RHP Chris Clarke (W, 4-3) was able to induce a pair of groundouts that left both runners in scoring position.

A Bradlee Beesley RBI single in the home half of the fourth pushed the Smokies’ margin to 4-1. In the top of the fifth, Dillard drew a one-out walk before stealing second and moving to third on a throwing error. Mitchell drove in Dillard with an RBI single and Valerio followed with a single to advance Mitchell to third. Lutz then bounced a single inside of first to plate Mitchell and bring the Shuckers within a run at 4-3, but Yeison Coca hit into an inning-ending double play and departed with an apparent injury after the play.

Jake Slaughter gave the Smokies a two-run advantage once again with a solo home run to left in the bottom of the fifth, capping the scoring for Tennessee. RHP Danis Correa (S, 3) came on in the seventh for the Smokies and worked around a two-out single by Mitchell to secure the save.

Biloxi continues their six-game series with Tennessee on Thursday night at Smokies Stadium. LHP Brandon Knarr (1-1, 3.19) takes the mound for the Shuckers against Smokies’ RHP Ryan Jensen (0-3, 5.34) for a 6:15 pm CT first pitch. The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Individual tickets, Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are available for the 2022 season by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.