The Knoxville Smokies capped the regular-season home slate at Covenant Health Park with a 6-5 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Sept. 6, winning the series four games to two.
Knoxville went 37-31 in home games during the regular season, including three straight wins over the Lookouts to close the final homestand.
"To win the last home series, (it took) a lot of grit, a lot of fight with these guys," Smokies manager Lance Rymel told Knox News. "Hopefully, they'll keep it rolling."
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For the second time in three days, the Smokies opened scoring with a first-inning blast. First baseman Miguel Useche ushered a two-run homer to left-center field for an early Knoxville lead. Right fielder Alex Ramirez doubled the lead with a two-run shot
of his own in the second inning.
Chattanooga loaded the bases in the third inning, but only scratched one run across the plate. Knoxville starter Connor Schultz limited the damage to that lone run in his four-inning outing. The Smokies quickly got the run back with a bottom-half blast by designated hitter Andy Garriola.
The Lookouts plated three runs in the fifth inning, cutting the Smokies' lead to 6-4. Rymel was ejected during the frame after arguing a call at the plate that helped the Lookouts score a run.
Chattanooga cut the deficit to one run, but Smokies pitcher Yennri Rojas shut the door with a scoreless, hitless three innings of relief.
Smokies player of the game, top moments: Sunday, Sept. 6
Player of the game: First baseman Miguel Useche's first-inning home run not only started the scoring, but it came against his college teammate, Beau Blanchard. Useche finished the day 2-for-4. "I came into today knowing we were facing him, and I was like, 'I got to get him,'" Useche told Knox News. "He threw me a slider that was just hanging and happened to put good wood on it."
- Bombs away: Knoxville blasted a home run in each of the first three innings. Miguel Useche, Alex Ramirez and Andy Garriola each sent a ball out of the park, helping the Smokies score a trio of two-run innings in the first three frames.
- More ejections: For the third time in the series, a manager was ejected. Smokies manager Lance Rymel was tossed in the fifth inning after a safe call at the plate, his second ejection in three days. Lookout manager Jose Moreno was ejected Sept. 2.
Southern League Playoffs next at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville concludes the regular season with a six-game series in Birmingham beginning Sept. 8.
The Smokies' next home game will come in the Southern League Playoffs divisional round, which begins on the road Sept. 15 against the second-half winner. Covenant Health Park will host its first postseason baseball action Sept. 17 in Game 2 of a best-of-three series.
Smokies record in Southern League North
The Smokies have already clinched a playoff spot by capturing the first-half title and are in first place in the Southern League North.
Southern League North standings
- Knoxville Smokies (33-29 second half, 71-60 overall)
- Rocket City Trash Pandas (31-31 second half, 66-64 overall)
- Birmingham Barons (31-31 second half, 57-74 overall)
- Chattanooga Lookouts (21-42 second half, 58-74 overall)
Southern League South standings
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos (39-22 second half, 75-55 overall)
- Columbus Clingstones (33-29 second half, 62-64 overall)
- Montgomery Biscuits (33-29 second half, 68-63 overall)
- Biloxi Shuckers (27-35 second half, 62-65 overall)
** Records reflect the standings as of 5 p.m. Sept. 6.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Smokies close final homestand with third straight win over Lookouts
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