After bringing home the first half division title, a wealth of injuries and player moves have led to a sluggish start for the Smokies in the season’s second half.  With two more stars on the move to Triple-A Iowa this past week, the Smokies struggled to back on track, taking only three of six against Chattanooga and Mississippi.
A late Smokies rally and costly base running mistake from the Lookouts helped the Smokies avoid the sweep with a 5-4 win in Monday’s series finale.  Nelson Perez hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run eighth to put the Smokies ahead, and the game ended with Steve Clevenger tagging the tying run between third and home after miscommunication between the runner and third base coach.
The Smokies lost two of their biggest bats prior to Wednesday’s series opener in Mississippi, with Brett Jackson and Ryan Flaherty receiving the call-up to Iowa hours before the game.  The Braves went on to score a combined seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to knock off the Smokies 10-2.  David Macias drove in two runs, but the Smokies continued their struggles with runners in scoring position in the loss.
Luis Flores stole the show in Thursday’s 5-4 win, driving in three runs with homers in the fifth and eighth innings.  Closer Rafael Dolis was able to hold off a late Braves rally with the tying run at third base in the ninth.
Mississippi edged the Smokies by a 5-4 margin on Friday.  Nelson Perez brought in Rebel Ridling with a sac fly to narrow the deficit to one run in the seventh, but the Braves bullpen kept the Smokies off the board over the final two frames.
Ten runners were left stranded and a costly wild pitch and throwing error led to three runs as the Smokies fell 5-2 on Saturday.  With the bases loaded in the eighth, the Smokies only managed one run, and two runners were stranded in scoring position in the ninth.
Sunday’s game was suspended with the Smokies leading 1-0 in the third inning.  The game resumed on Monday, and Flores broke a tie with a pinch-hit RBI single in the 10th to give the Smokies a 2-1 win.  Rafael Dolis picked up the win and Marcus Hatley recorded the save after the two combined for three scoreless innings to end the game.
The Smokies return home this week to take on the Carolina Mudcats for a five-game series at Smokies Park.  For tickets or more information, call (865) 286-2300, or visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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