Smokies hold on to beat the Biscuits Thursday, 9-8

By: Adam Kline

KODAK, Tenn. – The Tennessee Smokies used five late-inning runs to defeat the Montgomery
Biscuits Thursday night by a score of 9-8 in front of 3,148 at Smokies Park. The win was the Smokies second consecutive victory and improved their second half record to 26-19, 60-54 overall.

On the first pitch that Montgomery starter Victor Mateo threw in the game, Matt Szczur hit his third home run of the year to give Tennessee the early lead. Arismendy Alcantara followed with a single, stole second and later scored on a Justin Bour groundout to give the Smokies a 2-0 lead.

Smokies starter Eduardo Figueroa, making his second Double-A start of the season and his first at Smokies Park, gave up four runs in the third inning to give the Biscuits a 4-2 lead. All four runs came off of home runs by the Biscuits’ one, three and six hitters. Figueroa finished the night giving up six hits in six innings of work and struck out one.

The Biscuits (22-24, 59-57) would get another run in the fifth, but the Smokies would bring the game within one run after Rubi Silva reached on an error that allowed Rafael Lopez and Szczur to score.

Reliever Zac Rosscup gave up a run on two hits, only retiring one batter, before Skipper Buddy Bailey called on Tony Zych (3-4) to come in. Zych got a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning and limit the threat.

Szczur led off the seventh inning with an infield single to second base and then Justin Bour and Silva hit back-to-back RBI-doubles to tie the game at six apiece. With the bases loaded and two out, John Andreoli laced a two-RBI single up the middle to make the score 8-6.

Javier Baez would plate what would end up being the game-winning run for the Smokies in the eighth inning with a single to make the score 9-6.

Frank Batista (S, 14) gave up two earned runs in his inning of relief but was able to get a timely double play and a strikeout to get out of the inning and secure the victory for Tennessee.

Biscuits’ starter Victor Mateo went five innings, giving up five hits, four runs (two earned), three walks and struck out six. He did not factor into the decision.

The second game of this five-game series features Smokies righty Dae-Eun Rhee (3-1, 2.93) toeing the rubber and facing off against Biscuits’ right-hander Mike Colla (5-2, 3.64).

AUDIO RECAP  SMOKIES  9  Biscuits  8

PLAYER OF THE GAME – MATT SZCZUR 

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