Smokies & Braves Meet In Saturday Matinee

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The Smokies face off against the M-Braves in a rare Saturday matinee today at Trustmark Park, with the third game of the series set for 12:00 p.m. ET in Pearl, Mississippi.

Tennessee was shut out in game two last night, a 2-0 defeat, with the Braves taking advantage of wild pitches to score both of their runs. 1B Dustin Geiger was the lone batter to record a multi-hit effort, while right-hander Corey Black suffered the loss after allowing the two earned runs. Relievers Tony Zych and Arodys Vizcaino combined for the final 2.2 shutout frames, with Vizcaino fanning two of three batters faced.

Right-hander Matt Loosen (2-2, 5.97) is set to get the nod for the Smokies in the third game of the series. The Jacksonville University alum did not factor in the decision in his most recent outing on May 11 Jackson after yielding 11 runs (ten earned) on nine hits in 4.2 frames. Loosen has faced Mississippi twice in his career prior to this season, including in his second career Double-A start on July 3, 2011.

Slated to oppose Loosen for the M-Braves this afternoon is righty David Bromberg (2-2, 1.59). The 26-year-old has given up only one earned run in 15.0 innings this month, compiling a 2-0 mark in three starts. Bromberg fired six shutout innings in his last outing on May 12 versus Montgomery, scattering four hits while fanning six.

Fans can listen to the broadcast on the Smokies Baseball Network, with the “Voice of the Smokies” Mick Gillispie and Greg Young. Gillispie and Young are assisted by Keith Brake, Meagan Wood, Sean Sullivan, Boomer Dangel and James Rowe. The Pilot/Oscar Meyer Pre-game Show will begin at 11:45 a.m. ET.

Below are more notes on Tennessee’s contest this afternoon, direct from the club’s Game Notes, compiling by Director of Media Relations Andrew Green. The entire game notes can be viewed byclicking here.

STILL AT THE TOP: Despite their shutout last night, the Smokies continue to lead all Major League and Minor League clubs with 111 runs scored in the month of May…In addition, Tennessee batters are averaging 11.1 hits per game through 15 contests, the highest mark in baseball…The club’s .302 batting average ranks sixth among all Minor League clubs, with Triple-A Las Vegas leading the way in that company with a .315 clip this month…Last month, the Smokies averaged 3.7 runs and 7.1 hits per game.

SPEED DEMON: With his two steals last night, OF John Andreoli extended his Southern League lead with 22 thefts this season…That mark also ranks the outfielder tied for second among all Minor Leaguers behind only Low-A Fort Wayne OF Mallex Smith’s 28…The 23-year-old’s 18 steals since April 17 are the most in baseball, combining both the Major and Minor Leagues…Andreoli has led all Cubs farmhands in stolen bases in each of the past two seasons, swiping 40 last season between High-A Daytona and Tennessee, in addition to 55 with the D-Cubs during the 2012 season…Since the 2013 campaign began, Andreoli has been successful in 62 of his 68 attempts.

BRYANT LEADING THE WAY: INF Kris Bryant continues to tear up the Southern League, entering today pacing the circuit in homers (11), RBI (34), runs (36), hits (49), slugging percentage (.605) and total bases (92), in addition to second in extra-base hits (21) and third in batting average (.322) and on-base percentage (.418)…Bryant has enjoyed a productive month of May so far at the plate, batting .387 (19-63) with 19 runs, two doubles, six homers and 22 RBI in 15 contests…Those 19 runs tie Bryant for first in the Minor Leagues in May with Triple-A Fresno INF Adam Duvall, while his 22 RBI place him third among Minor Leaguers this month…The 22-year-old was also named the Southern League’s Hitter of the Week earlier this month for the span between May 5-11.

BRUNO’S BIG MONTH: INF Stephen Bruno despite an 0-for-2 outing last night has hit .411 (23-56) in the month of May, adding 17 runs, 11 doubles, a triple, two homers, 16 RBI, six walks and a .484 on-base percentage…That comes after the second baseman compiled a .227 mark (17-75) in 20 April contests with five runs, two doubles, a triple, homer, five RBI and five walks…The infielder paces the Southern League this month in average, doubles, extra-base hits (14), slugging percentage (.750) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.234), in addition to second in RBI, and tied for second in hits, total bases (42) and on-base percentage.

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND: Tennessee enters this afternoon’s game with a 6-3 mark in day games, including a 2-2 mark on the road…OF Jae-Hoon Ha leads the club with a .381 batting average (8-21) in his six day games this season, adding eight runs, a double, homer, four RBI, two walks and a .435 on-base percentage…INF Stephen Bruno has also fared well in his seven contests played in daylight this year, hitting .346 (9-26) with four runs, three doubles, a homer, two RBI, five walks and a .469 on-base percentage.

NO SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY: The Smokies this season own a 1-6 record in their seven contests this season against South Division opponents, compared to a 22-12 mark versus North Division squads…The clubs is averaging just over two runs and 6.3 hits over those seven meetings…Six of those seven games have been decided by two runs or less, including five one-run ballgames…Their lone victory versus a South Division club this season was on April 4 at Pensacola, a 1-0 victory…Last year Tennessee recorded a 23-31 record against South Division teams in 2013, compared to a 53-31 clip against their North Division foes…That included a 7-17 road record versus opponents in the South.

Today’s broadcast will air on WJBE 99.7 FM , plus online at www.smokiesbaseball.com, as well as via the Smokies’ mobile app. Click the link below to listen live online.