Philip Stalzer
KNOXVILLE, TN — Two teams tied for second place in the Southern League North faced off in Knoxville this week with a chance to take sole possession of second place and set their eyes firmly on the Chattanooga Lookouts in first place in the North. Dominant pitching remained the theme for the Smokies as of late, but could the offense step up and give Knoxville some momentum at a crucial point in the first half?
Game 1: Offensive Explosion Starts the Week Off Strong
Knoxville’s offense wasted no time getting things going early on Tuesday. The Smokies scored four runs in the first two innings on a pair of two-run home runs by Jefferson Rojas and Karson Simas to give Knoxville an early 4-0 lead. Then in the fourth, after a couple of free passes surrounding an error by Birmingham’s shortstop, Carter Trice drove a ball over the head of the center fielder for a three-RBI triple to give Knoxville a 7-0 lead.
Birmingham was able to score four runs to cut into the lead in the sixth after a couple of walks, an error, and some timely hitting.
Jefferson Rojas continued his big day at the plate with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to give Knoxville the momentum back.
Yenrri Rojas started on the mound for Knoxville and made his best start of the season so far. Over five innings, Yenrri Rojas allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out four. Yenrri Rojas’s season ERA is still inflated to 6.65 due to a rough start to the season against Birmingham in which he allowed 10 runs (9 earned) over 2.2 innings. Since then, Yenrri Rojas has been consistently effective for the Smokies, getting better with every start.
The bullpen was effective behind Rojas as well. Jackson Kirkpatrick struggled a little as the first man out of the bullpen, allowing four runs (2 earned), but an early offensive explosion and shutdown innings from Vince Reilly and Tyler Ras behind Kirkpatrick ensured Knoxville won game one 10-4.
Game 2: Knoxville’s Bats Go Cold
After a rainout on Wednesday, Knoxville was not able to get the bats going the same way as on Tuesday. Owen Ayers was able to get Knoxville on the board first with a solo home run in the bottom of the second, but the Smokies were unable to push across any more runs after that against Birmingham’s staff. The Smokies only struck out five times all game, but six strong innings from Jake Palisch and three shutout innings from the bullpen behind him kept Knoxville mostly off the board.
Grant Kipp had a strong outing himself for the Smokies as well. Kipp allowed just three hits and one earned run over five innings while striking out eight. The one run came on an RBI triple by Jacob Burke, but Kipp was otherwise dominant.
The bullpen behind Kipp was largely effective too. Jace Beck ended up with the loss after allowing just one unearned run in two innings of work behind Kipp. Evan Taylor tossed a perfect eighth, but Luis Rujiano let the game get away in the top of the ninth, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. Knoxville lost game two by a final of 4-1.
Game 3: Back in the Win Column
Friday was a doubleheader day for Knoxville and Birmingham after they were rained out on Wednesday. In the first game of the double header, Dawson Netz made just his second start of the season after coming out of the bullpen to start the season for Knoxville.
Netz was incredible, tossing five no-hit innings on just 57 pitches while striking out eight and walking only two. Manager Lance Rymel and his coaching staff decided to play it safe with Netz this early in the season as they continue to stretch him out for the starting role.
“He’s going to keep going in the starting role, we like him there,” Rymel said. “He’s done nothing but great jobs out of the [bullpen] or being a starter… he’ll stay in the starting role for now.
The Smokies were able to support Netz’s gem with enough offense as well. In the third, Jordan Nwogu drove in two on a bloop single to right field. A throwing error by the right fielder allowed the second run to score. Nwogu drove in a third run for the Smokies on a single through the left side to give Knoxville a 3-0 lead after five innings.
Knoxville carried the 3-0 lead into the seventh inning where Tyler Santana was looking for a six-out save. Birmingham threatened in the top of the seventh. After scoring two runs to cut the lead to one, the top of the Barons’ order came up with the tying and go ahead runs on base. Santana was able to get the final out and secure the 3-2 win for Knoxville in the first game of the double header.
Game 4: 8 Runs on 1 Hit?
The Smokies did not have to do a lot of work themselves on offense to score runs in the second game of the double header. Christian Oppor did not look comfortable on the mound for Birmingham to start the game. Over just three innings, Oppor walked seven and allowed five earned runs without allowing a hit.
The first run came after back-to-back two-out walks by Nwogu and Jefferson Rojas to give Knoxville the early 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Knoxville’s offense exploded, but only recorded one hit. Oppor walked the bases loaded before throwing a wild pitch to allow Knoxville to score their second run of the game. Another walk reloaded the bases before Oppor was pulled for Jared Kelley out of Birmingham’s bullpen.
Kelley was no better than Oppor upon coming into the game. Kelley walked the first batter he saw to give Knoxville a 3-0 lead before striking out Trice for the first out of the inning. Two more walks and another strikeout gave Knoxville a 5-0 lead still without a hit. Ayers came up with two outs and the bases loaded and drove a line drive to right field for a bases clearing triple and Knoxville’s first hit of the game.
Birmingham eventually pushed a run across in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Jeral Perez, but it would not be enough as Knoxville went on to win 8-1 in seven innings with just one hit.
Game 5: Smokies Battle Out a Gritty Win
The Smokies rode on the back of yet another dominant start from one of their starting pitchers on Saturday night. Tyler Schlaffer started on the mound for Knoxville in game five and was coming off of his best start of the season despite an otherwise rough first four starts. Looking to put back-to-back strong starts together, Schlaffer went out and did just that.
Schlaffer allowed just one hit and two walks over five shutout innings while striking out seven, and the Smokies offense gave him the run support he needed. In the second inning, Alex Ramirez ripped a double to center field to put Ariel Armas in an RBI situation. Armas roped his own line drive over the wall in right field for a two-run home run to give Knoxville the early 2-0 lead.
Kirkpatrick came on in the sixth and struggled a bit. After walking the bases loaded, an RBI groundout and an error by Devin Ortiz at third base allowed two more runs to score. Kirkpatrick limited the damage to just three runs, but Birmingham was now in the lead.
Ayers continued his big week and helped the Smokies respond in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out solo home run to tie the game at three. Ramirez tripled to right field to give Edgar Alvarez the chance to drive him in with a sacrifice fly to take the lead back 4-3. Vince Reilly shut the door in the final two innings to secure Knoxville’s gritty 4-3 win and clinch the series.
“It’s a great feeling just knowing you helped the boys get a [win],” Reilly said. “The vibes are always good in the clubhouse after, so it’s a good time.”
Game 6: Big Comeback Win Extends the Win Streak to Four
Knoxville had a bullpen game lined up for Sunday’s Mother’s Day contest. Beck started on the mound, tossing three shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out two.
Nick Dean came out of the bullpen for the fourth and pitched the bulk of the middle innings for the Smokies. Over those four innings, Dean struck out six and allowed four hits. The only stain on his final line today came when he allowed two runs (one earned) in the sixth inning.
Alec Makarewicz tagged Dean for an RBI double with two outs to give Birmingham a 1-0 lead and a fielding error by Jefferson Rojas at third allowed Makarewicz to score and give Birmingham a 2-0 lead. That was all Knoxville would allow, giving them a chance to come back late.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jarold Rosado came on in relief after Birmingham’s starter Dylan Cumming threw six innings of one-hit ball. Rosado failed to retire a batter, allowing a hit and two walks to load the bases for Trice who lined a ball over the left field fence for a go-ahead grand slam for the Smokies. Rosado’s day ended, but Knoxville tacked on three more runs against Luke Bell. Bell got the first two batters he faced out, but gave up four consecutive hits and three runs to give Knoxville a 7-2 lead.
Evan Taylor came on after Dean in the eighth and pitched two near-perfect frames, allowing just one hit and striking out four to secure the win in the final game of the series 7-2.
Wrap Up
Coming into the series, both teams knew that they had to win the series to take sole possession of first place and hopefully gain some momentum as the early season continues. Knoxville’s offense was able to step up and help capitalize dramatically on the opportunity, winning the series 5-1, including winning the last four games of the series.
The series put Birmingham in last place in the Southern League North, four games behind Knoxville, currently in second place in the North, just 3.5 games behind first place Chattanooga.
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