Jackson starter Stephen Landazuri fired six strong innings of one-hit ball and designated hitter Jabari Blash blasted a massive solo shot to left in a 4-0 game one shutout victory, while the Smokies plated two in the bottom of the fourth as part of a 3-2 comeback win in game two over the Generals to split their doubleheader on Thursday night at Smokies Stadium.
The split holds the Smokies at a .500 mark with 7-7 record, while Jackson moved to 9-6. Thursday’s results also squares the series even at 2-2, forcing a rubber match for the series finale Friday evening.
Landazuri (6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 SO) threw six solid frames for the Generals, yielding the lone hit, a single from 1B Dustin Geiger in the second, while striking out nine and walking one. Reliever Stephen Kohlscheen (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) would then come on in the seventh and fire a hitless final frame. Smokies starter Corey Black (4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs on two hits in four innings of work.
Three of the Generals’ four scores came in the fourth, despite the club collecting only one hit in the frame. 1B Dan Paolini doubled in between free passes by RF Kevin Rivers and LF Leon Landry to load the bases for C John Hicks, who would then draw a walk to force in Rivers. Paolini and Landry would then eventually come across on back-to-back hit by pitches to make it 3-0.
Jackson would add more insurance in the fifth, with Blash’s blast. The designated hitter smashed the third pitch of the at bat into deep left field to push the Generals advantage to 4-0.
The Generals wasted little time getting ahead in game two, plating a tally in the top of the first. CF Jamal Austin drove a double to left on the very first pitch of the contest, and then moved to third on a fly out before coming home on Blash’s sacrifice fly to center.
Jackson would then double the margin to two in the third. SS Ketel Marte slapped a one-out single to right and got to second on a ground out, before being sent in on 1B Mickey Wiswall’s run-scoring double to right.
The Smokies however, would cut the deficit in half in the very next half inning via small ball. LF John Andreoli reached on an error, took second on a fly out and promptly stole third, prior to coming home on CF Jae-Hoon Ha’s sacrifice fly to left.
An inning later, Tennessee would grab the lead with a two-run fourth. 1B Charlie Cutler smashed a one-out double to the left-center field gap, before being sent in on SS Jeudy Valdez’s RBI two-bagger to center to draw the contest even. The Smokies would then take the advantage four pitches later on C Taylor Davis’ bloop single to right-center.
Tennessee southpaw reliever Hunter Cervenka (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO) tossed two shutout innings of relief to earn his first victory of the season, while closer Armando Rivero (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 SO) notched his third save of 2014 with a scoreless final frame. Jackson reliever Jordan Shipers (2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) suffered the defeat in game two to fall to 0-1 in the 2014 campaign.
The two teams are scheduled to finish off their five-game series Friday evening, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. at Smokies Stadium. Right-hander Ivan Pineyro (0-1, 2.00) is expected to get the nod for the Smokies, while Jackson’s starter has not yet been announced.
The ten-game homestand ends with Fireworks Friday, with a spectacular fireworks display following the conclusion of the contest. Fireworks Friday is presented by Pepsi, Coors Light, WIVK and WVLT.
Tickets for that contest still available, and can be purchased at http://www.smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.
Listen to Manager Buddy Bailey’s postgame reaction here:
Andrew Green
James Rowe
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