Tennessee Tops Lookouts 3-1 In Home Opener

 

By Andrew Green / Tennessee Smokies

Tennessee right-hander C.J. Edwards allowed a lone earned run in 5.2 innings, while catcher Rafael Lopez came through in the clutch with a two-out two-run double in the sixth, to propel the Smokies to a 3-1 home opener victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts in front of 4,899 fans on Friday evening at Smokies Stadium.

The series opening win improves Tennessee’s record to 2-4 on the year and snaps a three-game losing skid, while the defeat drops Chattanooga to a similar 2-4 mark in 2014.

Edwards and Chattanooga starter Carlos Frias matched each other until the fourth, when Chattanooga opened the scoring by taking advantage of a leadoff base knock.2B Darnell Sweeney began the frame with a single to right, moved to second on a groundout and then third on a wild pitch, before coming home when LF Scott Schebler reached on a fielder’s choice by beating out a potential double play to extend the inning.

The right-hander also ran into trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs before yielding to reliever P.J. Francescon, who shut the door to preserve what was then a one-run deficit. Schebler reached on his second fielder’s choice of the contest before SS Ozzie Martinez singled and CF Noel Cuevas walked to load the bases for Frias, who was sent down by Francescon on a groundout to second.

Lopez would then deliver the clutch two-run double in the subsequent frame to right to push Tennessee ahead. 3B Kris Bryant started the two-out rally with a single to center, while 1B Dustin Geiger reached base on a fielding error to set the stage for Lopez. After roping his go-ahead two-bagger, Lopez would go on to score on the play when an errant throw sailed into left, allowing the backstop to score from second.

Francescon (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO) earned the victory to improve to 2-0 on the year, while relievers Jeff Lorick (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) and Armando Rivero (1.1 IP, 3 SO) silenced the Lookouts hitters through the final two innings. Edwards (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite allowing the lone earned run on five hits, in addition to five strikeouts, while Frias (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 and Rivero notched his second save in as many chances.

Lopez (2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB), along with 2B Stephen Bruno (2-4), each recorded two hits in the winning effort, while no Chattanooga hitters collected a multi-hit game. Lopez has also recorded at least one base knock in each of his last three contests.

The two teams will play the second tilt of their five-game set Thursday at 11:30 a.m. for the first Kids Health and Safety Day, presented by Kohl’s Cares and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Both teams’ starters have not been announced.

Tickets for the contest are being sold for walk-ups only, and no alcohol will be served. Seats are still available for the remainder of the Smokies’ ten-game homestand, and can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.