Smokies Suffer Fourth Straight One Run Loss

HUNTSVILLE – Kris Bryant hit his league leading 16th home run of the season in the fifth, but the Tennessee bullpen lost another late lead and the Smokies lost their fourth straight one-run game 4-3 in Huntsville on Thursday night at Joe W. Davis Municipal Stadium.

Tennessee (26-27) starter Joe Gardner took a no-hitter into the fifth and left his dominating start with just one hit allowed over six and 1/3 innings pitched. Reliever Lendy Castillo (0-1, BS 1) took over for Gardner in the seventh and allowed four runs (two earned) while failing to record an out. Jeff Lorick finished the inning and allowed one inherited runner to score before finishing the frame.

The game was scoreless through four, but in the fifth the Smokies rallied for two hits and two runs off Huntsville (37-17) reliever Eric Marzec. John Andreoli walked to start the fifth and eventually stole second base. A bunt from Wes Darvill moved him to third and Andreoli scored on a single through short from Rafael Lopez. A fielding error later in the inning led to the second Tennessee run and the Smokies took a 2-0 lead.

Bryant’s home run came in the seventh and put the Smokies up 3-0 on the first place Stars. The home run was a line drive to left and was Bryant’s third of the series. The Tennessee third baseman is currently the league leader in average, hits, home run and on-base percentage.

Marzec allowed Bryant’s home run in the seventh and all three Tennessee runs in the game. He pitched three and 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Tim Dillard (1-0) pitched the end of the seventh and eventually earned the win. Jacob Barnes started and pitched just three innings. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two in his abbreviated start.

Huntsville collected just two hits, but took advantage of a costly error by Darvill in their half of the seventh and scored four times to take their first lead of the night.

Gardner started the seventh by retiring Nick Ramirez on a groundout, but was pulled from the game after hitting his pitch count limit. Castillo followed Ramirez and walked the first batter he faced. He then allowed consecutive singles to Mitch Haniger and Kentrail Davis to load the bases. Castillo then walked catcher Adam Weisenburger to force in Hunstville’s first run of the game.

With one out in the inning, Greg Hopkins hit a would be double play ball to second that was misplayed by Darvill. The resulting error allowed two runs to score and Huntsville tied the game 3-3.

Castillo did not record an out and allowed two earned runs and four total in his appearance. He also walked two, including a base on balls that led to a run, and did not record a strikeout.

Lorick allowed two hits and a walk over one and 2/3 innings. He also allowed one inherited runner to score and struck out one.

Reliever Tanner Poppe pitched the eighth for the Stars and David Goforth worked the ninth. Neither pitcher allowed a hit, or a run. Poppe struckout one while holding the Smokies and Goforth picked up his 12th save of the season.

The victory was the fourth straight one-run win for the Stars in the series. Huntsville leads the Smokies by 10.5 games in the North Division standings with 16 games remaining in the first half schedule.