Teddy Clark
MONTGOMERY, AL – In their first series back from the All-Star break, the Smokies hit the road to the Heart of Dixie to take on the Montgomery Biscuits. It was also the club’s first series without star catcher Owen Ayers and standout starter Jace Beck, as both were promoted to Triple-A Iowa.
The series did not go the Smokies’ way, as they were swept in the three-game set and managed just four total runs across the series. Montgomery, meanwhile, came out of the break swinging, scoring 17 runs over the three games and earning some revenge after the Smokies’ dominant series win five weeks earlier.
Game 1: Dominant Arms Highlight Series Opener
The opening game of the series was defined by strong pitching on both sides, as each team’s starter worked deep into the contest while allowing very little offense.
For Montgomery, starter Santiago Suarez was dominant. He tossed a complete seven innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits while striking out five. The lone run against him came in the fourth inning when Andy Garriola lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Alex Ramirez. Suarez finished with a line of seven innings pitched, two hits, one earned run, and five strikeouts. The Biscuits then turned to reliever Chris Clark for the final two innings, and he continued the trend, holding the Smokies to just one hit while preserving the lead.
On the Smokies’ side, Luis Martinez-Gomez made his first start since returning from a rehab stint with the ACL Cubs. Martinez-Gomez threw four innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, and striking out two. Given that it was his first Double-A start after returning, a shorter outing was expected, but he impressed early with three efficient innings before surrendering a solo home run to Theo Gillen in the fourth.
The Smokies then turned to Evan Taylor, who provided two innings of relief, allowing one earned run while striking out three. Experienced closer Tyler Ras handled the final two innings and was efficient until Montgomery broke through in the eighth. The Biscuits plated three runs in the inning on a Brayden Taylor RBI single followed by a two-run double from Theo Gillen, putting the game away and securing a 5-1 victory.
Game 2: The Pitching Duel Continues
Game two featured many of the same themes as the opener: dominant pitching, limited offense, and every baserunner carrying added importance. Montgomery claimed a 2-1 victory, clinching the series and potentially providing a much-needed spark to its season.
The Biscuits handed the ball to California native TJ Nichols, who delivered five productive innings despite issuing five walks. Nichols allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out five. The only damage against him came when Cubs No. 1 prospect Jefferson Rojas lined an RBI double off the center-field wall, scoring Alex Madera.
Montgomery’s bullpen took over from there. T.J. Fondtain tossed two scoreless innings before handing the ball to Jacob Kmatz, who closed out the final two innings. Kmatz was dominant, throwing two scoreless frames and striking out four of the six batters he faced.
The Smokies followed a similar strategy to Game 1. Starter Brooks Caple worked four scoreless innings, limiting Montgomery to two hits while striking out six. Tyler Schlaffer followed with two scoreless innings of his own, allowing just one hit and recording two strikeouts.
Marino Santy took over in the seventh and eighth innings and surrendered the tying run in the seventh on a Mac Horvath RBI single, making it a 1-1 game. Tyler Santana entered in the ninth and recorded two outs before Montgomery walked it off. Horvath delivered again, this time with a sacrifice fly that scored the winning run and gave the Biscuits a 2-1 victory.
Game 3: Smokies Sunday Scaries
The finale on Sunday was one the Smokies would like to forget, as the Biscuits scored early and often en route to a decisive win.
Montgomery wasted no time, erupting for four runs in the first inning behind several big hits. The Smokies used five different pitchers throughout the contest, beginning with newcomer Kevin Valdez. Valdez threw 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out two. All four runs came in the opening frame, starting with a two-run single from Will Simpson and followed by a bases-clearing triple from designated hitter Kenny Piper that made it 4-0 after one inning.
Frankie Scalzo Jr. entered in the fourth and recorded the final two outs of the inning before giving way to Koen Moreno. Moreno worked 1.2 innings and surrendered five earned runs. The damage began with a Theo Gillen home run and continued with a Gregory Barrios RBI single, helping Montgomery complete its scoring in the fifth inning.
Moreno returned for the sixth but was relieved after allowing a two-run homer to Braden Taylor, extending the Biscuits’ lead to eight runs. Luke Little and Erian Rodriguez handled the remainder of the game, combining for 2.1 innings while allowing two hits, one earned run, and striking out two.
Montgomery took a much different approach on the mound, using only three pitchers. Starter Gary Gill Hill was excellent, working seven innings while allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven. Both runs against him came courtesy of Ethan Hearn, who drove in a run with a single in the fifth before later adding an RBI groundout.
The Biscuits turned the game over to Tommy McCollum and Derrick Eddington for the final two innings. The duo combined for two scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out three and sealing Montgomery’s 10-2 victory.
Wrap Up
The Smokies leave Montgomery still searching for answers after a difficult first series out of the All-Star break. With the recent promotions of Owen Ayers and Jace Beck creating noticeable voids in both the lineup and pitching staff, Knoxville struggled to generate offense, scoring just four runs across the three-game sweep. While the starting pitching largely kept the club competitive in the first two games, the Smokies were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities and were ultimately outmatched by a Biscuits team that found its rhythm at the plate. As the second half continues, Knoxville will look to regroup quickly and rediscover the form that helped them become one of the Southern League’s top teams during the first half of the season.
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