Smokies Radio Network

Listen as Smokies aim to even Stars series Thursday

smokiesradio — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:19:11 +0000

Mike Brenly homered yesterday for Tennessee. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

The Tennessee Smokies aim to even their series against the Huntsville Stars on Thursday night in the fourth game of the series at Smokies Park.

Last night the Stars took the third game of the set with a 6-4 victory. Huntsville has won two of the first three games of the series, and the Smokies are 2-6 against the Stars this season.

Starting tonight for Tennessee is left-hander Erik Jokisch. In one start since his call-up from Daytona, Jokisch is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA for Tennessee. Starting for Huntsville is right-hander Kyle Heckathorn, who is 2-4 with a 4.99 ERA.

Here are more notes on tonight’s game, direct from the official Tennessee Smokies game notes compiled by Cody Chrusciel:

LAST TIME OUT
Mike Brenly and Junior Lake homered, but the Smokies fell to the Stars, 6-4, on Wednesday night. Smokies starter Dallas Beeler (1-5) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits over 4.2 innings. Tennessee’s bullpen yielded just one run over 4.1 frames. Jim Adduci batted third for the first time in 2012 while Jae-Hoon Ha got his first day off of the year.

BULLPEN BRIEFS
A Tennessee reliever has saved 18 of the Smokies 22 wins this season. Five different Tennessee relievers have notched saves so far in 2012 with three different hurlers saving at least four contests. Kevin Rhoderick has appeared in 10 straight games without allowing an earned run, a span of 15.1 innings. Frank Batista has yet to allow a run in 11 appearances this season. After allowing just 17% (3 of 18) inherited runners to score in April, the Smokies bullpen has allowed 12 of 23 (52%) to cross the plate in May. Over the past 13 games, Tennessee relievers have allowed just eight ER in 33 innings, a 2.18 ERA.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE?
The Smokies have allowed 39 unearned runs in 53 games – the most in the Southern League. No other team has allowed more than 34 unearned runs.

LOCKED AND LOADED
The Smokies are batting a league-worst .189 (10- for-53) with the bags packed. Tennessee started the season 4-for-24 (.118) with the bases loaded.

Fans can listen to the game on the Smokies Radio Network, with the “Voice of the Smokies” Mick Gillispie entering his sixth season as Tennessee’s Director of Broadcasting. The 2010 Southern League Broadcaster of the Year is assisted by Cody Chrusciel, Roger Hoover, Jonathan Guess, and Adam King. Chrusciel and Hoover will host the Pilot Oscar-Meyer Pregame Show beginning at 7 p.m. on the Smokies Radio Network.

Tonight’s broadcast will air on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station The Sports Animal WNML AM 990, FM 99.1 and 99.3 plus the Smokies mobile app. Click the link below to listen live online.

Listen Live to the Stars and Smokies May 31, 2012

You can also follow along with the game by following the Smokies Radio Network on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Video: Ty’Relle Harris – Road to Recovery

smokiesradio — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:29:13 +0000

By Adam King / Smokies Radio Network

Here is a video story on Smokies relief pitcher Ty’relle Harris’ “road to recovery” from a serious leg injury during the 2011 season.

Harris was run over by a car in Knoxville last season, with the car breaking his right tibia in half and his right fibula in two places.

Less than a year from the injury, Harris is back on the mound in a Tennessee Smokies uniform, and pitched a scoreless inning and third against Huntsville last night at Smokies Park.

In this feature Harris discusses the injury, his rehab, and thanks Tennessee fans for their support of the former Tennessee Volunteer and current Smokies pitcher.

What We’re Reading (5/31)

smokiesradio — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:42:06 +0000

Former Smoky Darwin Barney hit a walkoff homer to seal a Wednesday victory for the Cubs over the Padres. Photo Courtesy: David Banks, Getty Images

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

The Tennessee Smokies fell to the Huntsville Stars 6-4 on Wednesday night in the third game of the series at Smokies Park.

Huntsville has won two of the first three in the series, and can claim a series win with a victory tonight or on Friday.

It’s time for today’s What We’re Reading, but keep checking the blog and our Facebook and Twitter pages for more info throughout the day on today’s game at Smokies Park.

- Bleed Cubbie Blue: Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 30

- Chicago Tribune: Cubs sweep lifts spirits

- Chicago Tribune: Cubs’ McLeod: Rizzo in ‘finishing stages’ in Iowa

- Chicago Tribune: Cubs looking to bolster pitching in draft

- Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs’ huge attendance edge over White Sox no surprise to Sveum

- CSN Chicago: This time, Cubs think Rizzo can live up to the hype

- ESPN: Jonathan Lucroy says wife a target

- Yahoo’s Big League Stew: Freddie Freeman focused with funky new glasses

- Yahoo’s Big League Stew: Yanks catcher Russell Martin lodges an unusual complaint about umpire Laz Diaz

- Orange County Register: Injuries Hitting Dodgers Hard

- Baltimore Sun: Signs of Trouble Piling Up for Orioles

Smokies fall to Stars Wednesday night, 6-4

smokiesradio — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:50:25 +0000

By Adam Kline / Tennessee Smokies

KODAK, Tenn. – Home runs by Mike Brenly and Junior Lake were not enough for the Tennessee Smokies as they fell to the Huntsville Stars 6-4 on Wednesday night. The loss, in front of 2,963 at Smokies Park, drops the Smokies to 22-31 on the season. Huntsville improved to 29-23, 1.5 behind first place Jackson.

The Stars had little trouble off Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler. Huntsville scored three runs in the second inning on four consecutive singles to give them an early 3-0 lead.

Tennessee answered with two runs of their own in the second. Matt Cerda hit a two-out double and was brought in by Brenly’s first Double-A home run to narrow the Smokies’ deficit, 3-2.

Beeler got knocked out in the fifth as Huntsville added two more runs. Gennett was able to score as former Tennessee Volunteer Kentrail Davis hit into a fielder’s choice and scored on a Lee Haydel RBI single to extend their lead to 5-2.

Beeler (1-5) went 4.2 innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits and struck out one.

The Smokies answered in the fifth when Lake hit his third home run of the season over the windscreen in left field to bring the game to 5-3.

With two runners on in the sixth for the Stars, the game got heated. A ground ball to second baseman Logan Watkins started a double play. Third base umpire Thomas Newsom ruled that Tommy Manzella made an illegal slide into second base and called runner’s interference, which automatically caused the batter to be out as well. Huntsville manager Darnell Coles argued the call and was quickly ejected from the game. Huntsville starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg was also ejected from the game as he was arguing the call from the bench.

Tennessee would get within one run in the seventh. Brenly got things started with a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a Lake single. Watkins would load the bases with a walk, Brenly dashed home as Dan Merklinger threw a wild pitch, to put the Smokies down 5-4.

Huntsville added an insurance run in the eighth against reliever Marcus Hatley. Manzella collected his second RBI of the game as he drove in Haydel with a single to extend the lead to 6-4.

Thornburg (7-0) picked up his seventh win of the season, putting him in a tie for first in the league in wins. The righty went five innings, allowing three runs to come across on four hits.

Tennessee and Huntsville will take the field tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. on Teacher Appreciation Night at Smokies Park. Eric Jokisch (0-0, 0.00) will make his second start of the season for the Smokies and will face Kyle Heckathorn (2-3, 5.32) for the Stars. For tickets and more information visit www.smokiesbaseball.com or call (865) 286-2300.

LISTEN TO GAME HIGHLIGHTS: May 30, 2012 Stars 6 Smokies 4

Listen as Smokies face Huntsville Wednesday

smokiesradio — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:51:56 +0000

Right-hander Dallas Beeler will start tonight for Tennessee. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover.

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

The Tennessee Smokies aim for a series lead against the Huntsville Stars as they face off in the third game of the series at Smokies Park on Wednesday night.

Tennessee evened the series on Tuesday night, winning 3-2 behind a solid start from Nick Struck who earned the victory.

Tonight the Smokies will start right-hander Dallas Beeler, who is 1-4 with a 3.93 ERA this season. Starting for the Stars is right-hander Tyler Thornburg who is 6-0 with a 2.28 ERA.

Here are more notes on tonight’s game, direct from the official Tennessee Smokies game notes compiled by Cody Chrusciel:

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
On Tuesday, INF Nate Samson rejoined the Smokies from Triple-A Iowa and LHP Casey Harman was placed on the DL.

A THORN IN THEIR SIDES
Huntsville starter Tyler Thornburg, who Baseball America ranks as Milwaukee’s fourth-best prospect, is 6-0 with the fifth-lowest ERA (2.28) in the Southern League. In his lone career start against the Smokies on April 16, Thornburg took a perfect game into the eighth inning. Thornburg is 13-0 in the first half in his three-year career and enters today’s contest with a 17-6 career record and a lifetime 2.42 ERA.

WORTH NOTING
Over their past three games, the Smokies are 4-for-34 with RISP with 35 LOB. The Smokies have scored in the first inning in seven of their last 10 games. 16 of Tennessee’s last 18 losses have been by three runs or less. The Smokies are 20-13 when scoring three or more runs but just 2-17 when scoring less than three times. The Smokies are 7-3 against Chattanooga and 15-27 against the rest of the SL. The Smokies have plated 196 runs in 52 outings (3.8 per game). Last season, they averaged five runs per contest while leading the league in batting with a .274 average. The Smokies are in the middle of a 15-game stretch without the use of the designated hitter as they take on Mississippi (Braves), Mobile (Diamondbacks), and Huntsville (Brewers).

Listen Live to the Stars and Smokies May 30, 2012

You can also follow along with the game by following the Smokies Radio Network on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

What We’re Reading (5/30)

smokiesradio — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:21:23 +0000

Alfonso Soriano and Starlin Castro in the dugout during Chicago’s 5-3 win over San Diego on Tuesday. Photo Courtesy: Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

The Tennessee Smokies put an end to their two-game losing skid by winning 3-2 against the Huntsville Stars on Tuesday night at Smokies Park.

Tennessee starter Nick Struck was dominant on the mound, striking out nine batters in six innings on the mound as he picked up his fifth win of the season.

It’s time for today’s What We’re Reading, but keep checking the blog and our Facebook and Twitter pages for more info throughout the day on today’s game at Smokies Park.

- Knoxville News Sentinel: Smokies’ Struck strikes out Stars, 3-2

- Knoxville News Sentinel:‘Rocky Top’ sounds good to former Vol Kentrail Davis

- Bleed Cubbie Blue: Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 29

- Chicago Tribune: Samardzija, relievers tough when it counts

- Chicago Tribune: With tickets already sold, Cubs can afford patience

- Chicago Sun-Times: Steve Clevenger back for Cubs, will play often

- CSN Chicago: The Cubs Way: Brett Jackson is still thinking big

- miCubs.com: miCast: Peoria Chiefs voice Nathan Baliva

- ESPN Dallas / Fort Worth: Roy Oswalt, Rangers reach terms

- Yahoo’s Big League Stew: James Loney: Umpires should call pitches from behind mound — and be robots with replay

- Yahoo’s Big League Stew: Magglio Ordonez set to retire after 15 seasons

- Sports Illustrated: Steroid Users Cheated Clean Players

- The New York Times: From Baseball to Books, Dickey Shares Thoughts With Fans

Struck delivers for Smokies in 3-2 win Tuesday night

smokiesradio — Wed, 30 May 2012 03:52:39 +0000

Nick Struck was strong in six innings for Tennessee, striking out nine as he earned the win on Tuesday. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover.

By Adam Kline / Tennessee Smokies

KODAK, Tenn. – In arguably his best start to-date this season, Nick Struck fanned nine in six innings leading the Tennessee Smokies to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Huntsville Stars at Smokies Park. With the win, the Smokies improved to 22-30 on the season. The Stars drop to 28-23.

For the second consecutive game the Smokies scored in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Junior Lake led off by reaching on a bunt single and moved to second on a Jae-Hoon Ha single. Two batters later with the bases loaded, Rebel Ridling hit into a force out at second that allowed Lake to scamper home to make it 1-0.

Tennessee extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Lake smoked a double to right to get the inning started and advanced to third on a Logan Watkins single. Lake scored easily as Huntsville starter Evan Anundsen (3-2) threw an errant pickoff attempt to first. Watkins came around to score as Justin Bour singled him home for his league leading 37th RBI.

Struck (5-5) scattered three hits over his six innings of work, and would hand the ball off to the Smokies bullpen.

Huntsville, now trailing the Smokies 3-1, created suspense in the top of the eighth. Hunter Morris hit an RBI double off of reliever Alberto Cabrera to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Kevin Rhoderick came into the game with one out and intentionally walked Kentrail Davis to load the bases, but was able to get out of the inning as Anderson De La Rosa grounded out.

After surrendering a lead-off single, Rhoderick shut the door on Huntsville by getting the next three batters out to earn his sixth save of the season, tying Frank Batista for the team lead.

Lake and Ha led the Smokies offense each going 2-for-4 on the night.

Tennessee and Huntsville will face-off in Game 3 of their five-game series on Wednesday night at 7:15 at Smokies Park. The Smokies will start RHP Dallas Beeler(1-4, 3.93) and the Stars will counter with RHP Tyler Thornburg (6-0, 2.28). Fans will be treated to Buck Night on Wednesday, all hot dogs, small popcorn and small fountain sodas are just $1 each.

LISTEN TO GAME HIGHLIGHTS: May 29, 2012 Stars 2 Smokies 3

Video: Alex Cohen Interview

smokiesradio — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:41:01 +0000

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

Earlier today I sat down with Huntsville Stars broadcaster Alex Cohen to get his thoughts on the Southern League and the 2012 version of the Stars.

Cohen is in his first year as the play-by-play voice of the Stars, and you can follow him on Twitter: @alexmcohen.

Check the post below for listening information on tonight’s second game of the series.

Listen as Smokies face Stars on Tuesday

smokiesradio — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:33:14 +0000

Right-hander Nick Struck will start tonight for Tennessee. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover.

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

After losing six of their last seven games, the Tennessee Smokies aim to return to the winning track on Tuesday night, facing the Huntsville Stars at Smokies Park at 7:15 p.m.

The Stars have taken five out of the six meetings in the season series this season, and won the opening game of this set 8-4 last night.

Tennessee will send right-hander Nick Struck to the mound for his eleventh start of the season. Struck is 4-5 with a 4.86 ERA. Huntsville will start right-hander Evan Anundsen, who is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA.

Here are more notes on tonight’s game, direct from the official Tennessee Smokies game notes compiled by Cody Chrusciel:

WORTH NOTING
Over their past three games, the Smokies are 2-for-27 with RISP with 27 LOB. Jae-Hoon Ha has hit leadoff in each of the past four games, going 3-for-18. The Smokies have scored in the first inning in six of their last nine games. 16 of Tennessee’s last 18 losses have been by three runs or less. The Smokies are 19-13 when scoring three or more runs but just 2-17 when scoring less than three times. The Smokies are 7-3 against Chattanooga and 14-27 against the rest of the SL. The Smokies have plated 193 runs in 51 outings (3.8 per game). Last season, they averaged five runs per contest while leading the league in batting with a .274 average. The Smokies are in the middle of a 15-game stretch without the use of the designated hitter as they take on Mississippi (Braves), Mobile (Diamondbacks), and Huntsville (Brewers).

THE BOUR IDENTITY
Justin Bour leads the Southern League with 36 RBIs.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE?
The Smokies have allowed 37 unearned runs in 51games – the most in the Southern League. No other tam has allowed more than 31 unearned runs. The Smokies have gone three straight games without committing an error, matching their longest such streak of the season.

Listen Live to the Stars and Smokies May 29, 2012

You can also follow along with the game by following the Smokies Radio Network on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Video: Doc McGraw presents American flag to Smokies

smokiesradio — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:18:13 +0000

By Adam King / Smokies Radio Network

Last night Smokies team physician Dr. John McGraw presented the Smokies with an American flag that flew in Afghanistan when Dr. McGraw was deployed there with the U.S. Army last year.

“Doc” McGraw’s story was featured here on the Smokies Radio Network website a few weeks ago, and we are happy he is back home in East Tennessee.

Here is a video of the flag presentation from Doc McGraw to Smokies general manager Brian Cox before the opening game of the Smokies-Stars series at Smokies Park.