Smokies can't handle five-run inning, drop two straight to Lookouts
The Smokies lost to the Lookouts 8-4 in the second weekday afternoon game of 2026. Here's what happened and what the stadium has on tap this week.
The Knoxville Smokies held a one-run lead late in the game April 22 but couldn't respond to the visiting Chattanooga Lookout's five-running eighth inning. Wednesday's matchup, which finished with an 8-4 Chattanooga win, marked just the second weekday afternoon game for the Knoxville Smokies since the stadium opened for its inaugural season in 2025. The Smokies were able to pull together a walk-off win in their first weekday afternoon outing April 8 vs.
the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The April 22 loss to Chattanooga in the second game of the series followed the Smokies first shutout loss of the season from the night before. The Lookouts delivered on offense in the eighth inning Wednesday after entering the top of the frame down 4-3.
The Smokies moved players around the infield and swapped pitchers to try to stop the bleeding after Luis Martinez-Gomez gave up five runs in the inning. Smokies reliever Marino Santy found a way out of the inning, giving up two hits and striking out three batters. But the damage had already been done.
Buy Knoxville Smokies tickets! An RBI single from Owen Ayers in the first inning put Knoxville on the scoreboard for the first time this series. Devin Ortiz added to the lead with a sacrifice fly that pushed Jordan Nwogu across home plate.