Junior Lake hits a broken-bat single in the third inning of Friday's 2-1 win. (Adam Kline)
Mike Burgess’ two-out RBI double capped a two-run sixth inning that led the Tennessee Smokies to a 2-1 win over the Huntsville Stars Friday night at Smokies Park. The win, in front of 4,812, improved Tennessee’s record to 24-31. The Stars fell to 29-25.
Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Jim Adduci and Rebel Ridling led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Justin Bour grounded into a double play and moving Adduci to third. With Matt Cerda at bat, Adduci came into score on a wild pitch by Stars reliever Santo Manzanillo (0-3). Cerda followed the wild pitch with a single and would score on Burgess’ double to give the Tennessee a 2-1 lead.
Smokies starter Trey McNutt was on his game allowing only a single in the first inning; then didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning.
Huntsville got on the board first in the sixth. Josh Prince singled and came around to score on a Tommy Manzella double to deep left-center to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.
McNutt (3-4) ended his night with his longest outing of the season going six innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out two.
Tennessee’s bullpen of Alberto Cabrera and Marcus Hatley (S, 2) secured the victory for the Smokies. The duo combined to throw three scoreless innings allowing only two hits on four strikeouts.
Adduci led the Smokies offense going 3-for-4, and improved his batting average to team-best .316
The Smokies will now head to Montgomery, Ala. to take on the Biscuits in a five-game series beginning Saturday night at 8:05 EST. The team will return to Smokies Park on Thursday, June 7 for a 10-game homestand starting with a five-game set with the Mississippi Braves. For tickets and more information visit www.smokiesbaseball.com or call (865) 286-2300.
