Smokies win 7-2 but drop series to Lookouts ahead of road trip
The Knoxville Smokies defeated the Chattanooga Lookouts 7-2, led by Alex Ramirez's big afternoon, but still lost the series.
The Knoxville Smokies bounced back from Saturday's loss with a 7-2 win against the Chattanooga Lookouts at Covenant Health Park on April 26. The Lookouts still took the series, winning four games in the six-game set. Chattanooga still sits atop the Southern League North standings, but the Smokies are narrowing the gap between themselves and first place.
Alex Madera got the scoring started for the Smokies in the bottom of the third inning, which ended with a 3-2 Knoxville advantage after a two-run home run by Alex Ramirez. The game stayed quiet until the bottom of the eighth, when an Ariel Armas single scored Andy Garriola. Karson Simas then grounded out, but Carter Trice scored on the play to make the score 5-2.
Madera then reached base on a throwing error that score Simas. A line-drive single from Ramirez in the inning extended the Smokies' lead to the final score of 7-2. Smokies starter Vince Reilly lasted just one inning on the mound, giving up two runs before being replaced by Nick Dean, who earned the win for Knoxville.
Knoxville Smokies star of the game: Alex Ramirez Ramirez went four-for-five at the plate, earning three RBIS that helped the Smokies outlast the Lookouts in the series finale. He also scored a run on his two-RBI home run in the bottom of the third. Knoxville Smokies record in Southern League North The Smokies are now 9-11, placing them in second place in the Southern League North.