Logan Watkins at the plate. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover.
By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network
The Tennessee Smokies and Huntsville Stars will celebrate Memorial Day by playing the national pastime on Monday night at Smokies Park.
This is the first home game for the Smokies since May 15, following the longest road trip of the season, ten games against Mississippi and Mobile.
Taking the ball tonight for Tennessee is right-hander Dae-Eun Rhee. In nine starts this season, Rhee is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Starting for Huntsville is right-hander Josh Stinson, who is 5-2 with a 3.27 ERA in six starts.
The Smokies will celebrate all our service men that have served and are currently serving our country during our Memorial Day celebration, presented by Miller High Life. All military personnel, with valid ID, will receive a free ticket to the game.
Make sure to get to the game early, the Smokies will be presenting team physician Col. John McGraw with an American Flag that was flown over the FOB Salerno Hospital in Afghanistan in a pregame presentation. It’s also Dollar Hot Dog night, presented by Pilot, Oscar Mayer and WATE TV-6.
Here are more notes on tonight’s game direct from the official Tennessee Smokies game notes compiled by Cody Chrusciel:
SETTING THE SCENE
Having dropped five of their last six games, the Smokies return home tonight following yesterday’s off day to open up a five-game series against the Stars, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Huntsville took four of five from Tennessee from April 15-19 at Joe Davis Stadium with each game in that series decided by three runs or less.
LAST TIME OUT
The Smokies were shut out for just the second time this season, dropping Sunday’s series-finale at Mobile, 3-0. BayBears starter Tyler Skaggs allowed just two hits over six innings to earn the win, while Trey McNutt suffered the loss for Tennessee.
BULLPEN BRIEFS
A Tennessee reliever has saved 17 of the Smokies 21 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 nine straight games without allowing an earned run, a span of 13.2 innings. Frank Batista has yet to allow a run in nine appearances this season. After allowing just 17% (3 of 18) inherited runners to score in April, the Smokies bullpen has allowed 11 of 16 (69%) to cross the plate in May.Over the past two series, Tennessee relievers have allowed just five ER in 19 innings, a 2.34 ERA.
BEEN HERE BEFORE
While the Smokies currently sit in last place in the North Division, this is not completely unfamiliar territory for them. In 2009, the Smokies finished the first half with a 32-28 record, at one point suffering a 12-game losing streak that dropped them 13 games below .500. Tennessee went on to win the second half with a 39-31 record and beat Huntsville in the North Division Championship Series to advance to the SLCS.
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 28, 2012
You can also follow along with the game by following the Smokies Radio Network on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.
