The Smokies’ second series of their opening homestand against Jacksonville washed away hopes of a fast start. In a rain-shortened series, Tennessee dropped Monday’s opener 5-3 to the defending Eastern Division champions, then watched the weather force the first rain out in almost two years on Tuesday. The skies opened up and limited the teams to one game of a planned make-up double header on Wednesday where the Smokies took a 5-2 loss. The rain game will be made up in Jacksonville next week.
4/7 Jacksonville 5, Tennessee 3
The Smokies dropped their second game in a row in the series opener at Smokies Park. The Suns used a big second inning highlighted by Mike Collins base clearing double. The comedy of errors that has lingered through the home stand turned tragic when Chris Weekly pulled up short on a ground ball for a two run error that was the difference in the game.
Trailing, the Smokies rallied late in the eighth on a Suns error but just couldn’t put the hits together as they stranded eight on nine hits. Juan Pena took the loss as the Smokies fell to 3-2 and out of the first play tie with Carolina.
4/9 Jacksonville 5, Tennessee 2
In a game shortened to seven innings in preparation for a double header, Tennessee dropped to .500 as it lost its third in a row. Jacksonville took the short broom as the third game was postponed to an away game next week.
Jason Repco led off for the Suns and set the tone early with his game opening double up the third base line. Tarrick Brock teed off on Tennessee’s Rhett Parrott for a two run homer scoring Repco in the first.
The smallest crowd in Smokies Park history saw Repco return for more in the third as he sent his own solo shot over the Ft. Sanders sign in left. Back at the plate in the fifth, he torched Parrott again for an RBI double and reached third on an error, before scoring on a Victor Diaz sacrifice to center. Parrot left after the fifth, giving up five runs, four of them earned, on seven hits. Kevin Sprague closed out for the Smokies picking up 2K’s and allowing no hits over the last two innings.
Tennessee catcher Yadier Molina started a rally in the bottom of the seventh as he splashed a single into the gap of the rain soaked outfield. Caonabo Cosme splashed a single of his own setting up RBI’s on a single by Dennis Abreu and a Weekly double. With runners on second and third, the tying run Papo Bolivar came to the plate and flew out to center.
The early home series at Smokies Park ended 3-3 for Tennessee, which saw attendance drop each game. An announced crowd of 1,255 was reduced to a few hearty souls in jackets and umbrellas as the rain fell and the temperature dropped to the high forties.
Tennessee Takes Two At Disney
The Tennessee Smokies (5-4) won two of three games they played against the Orlando Rays (5-5) this past weekend in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Friday’s game saw Tennessee win 4-1 helped in part by four Orlando errors. Skip Schumaker had three of Tennessee’s six hits including a walk and RBI. Smokies starter Dan Haren (2-0, 1.50) pitched seven strong innings giving up only one run on a home run by Antonio Perez. Mike Lyons (0-1, 8.31) pitched the ninth picking up his second save of the year for Tennessee.
Orlando scored twice in the ninth inning and pulled out a come from behind 3-2 win over the Smokies Saturday night at Cracker Jack Stadium. Matt Diaz singled past a drawn in infield to drive home the winning run. Smokies reliever Mike Lyons did not record an out in the ninth, allowing a walk, hit batter, and three straight Rays singles.
Sunday’s game saw Tennessee’s offense come alive by collecting 17 hits and defeating Orlando 9-1. Smokies designated hitter Bucky Jacobsen went 4-5 with a double, a home run, and scoring three runs. Tennessee’s starting pitcher Jeremy Cummings (1-1, 4.35) received the win in five innings of work.

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