Smokies Postponed Due to Rain Wednesday at Birmingham

By Cody Chrusciel / Smokies Radio Network

Hoover, Ala. – Tonight’s game between the Tennessee Smokies and Birmingham Barons at Regions Park has been postponed due to rain. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 12 with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

In game one, Southpaw Zach Rosscup will make his Double-A debut for the Smokies tonight. Rosscup, who was acquired by the Cubs as part of the Matt Garza trade prior to the 2011 season, was promoted from Single-A Peoria on Saturday. In four relief appearances this season between Peoria and rookie-level Mesa, the 24-year-old has fired nine scoreless innings and struck out 16 batters without issuing a walk. Meanwhile, Philip Humber will make a rehab start for the Barons. Humber, who tossed a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners on April 21 in just his 30th career major league start, was placed on the disabled list by the White Sox on June 17 with a right elbow flexor strain. Humber has already made a pair of rehab starts with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (July 1 and 6), allowing four runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings. The 29-year-old has spent parts of seven seasons in the majors with four teams and is 3-4 with a 6.01 ERA in 2012.

In the nightcap, Tennessee right-hander Nick Struck (9-8, 3.55 ERA) will attempt to become the Southern League’s first 10-game winner while Birmingham will counter with righty Matthew Heidenreich (1-0, 1.13 ERA), who will make his second career Double-A start after going 8-2 with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash and being named a Carolina League All-Star earlier this season. Heidenreich allowed just one earned run over eight innings in his Double-A debut on the road against Pensacola last Thursday.