From Staff Reports

KNOXVILLE – While the calendar may still show June, the Knoxville Smokies are looking forward to September.

The Smokies clinched the Southern League North Division championship for the first half of the season by winning two of three games against Chattanooga over the weekend. Knoxville will play in the post-season September 15-18.

Friday: Smokies 2, Lookouts 0

The two wins came thanks in large part to excellent pitching. In Friday’s 2-0 win over the Lookouts, Jace Beck had 10 strikeouts and gave up only two hits in five innings. He also surrendered just one walk. Yenrri Rojas got the win in relief by pitching two innings to move to 2-5 on the season. Tyler Ras threw the final two innings and he picked up his first save of the season. Chattanooga only managed three total hits in the contest. Both the Knoxville’s runs came in the bottom of the seventh inning on RBI singles by Carter Trice and Ariel Armas.

(Saturday) Smokies 3, Lookouts 1

Knoxville clinched the first half title on Saturday night as the Smokies used four different pitchers to win 3-1. Starter Grant Kipp didn’t allow a hit in the first four innings and Tyler Santana (2-0) recorded the win on the hill with two innings pitched. Marino Santy hurled two innings and had three K’s before giving the ball to Evan Taylor who pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save of the year. The Smokies jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning when Alex Ramirez doubled home Jefferson Rojas and Owen Ayers scored on an Andy Garriola groundout. After Julio Carreras homered in the top of the eighth inning for Chattanooga to get the Lookouts to within a run, Hayden Cantrelle’s single that scored Edgar Alvarez added an insurance run in the 3-1 triumph.

(Sunday) Lookouts 11, Smokies 4

With the first half championship in hand, Sunday’s game was a bullpen contest as Chattanooga won 11-4. Knoxville used five different pitchers who fanned 14 Lookout batters but also gave up 12 hits which included three home runs. Brooks Caple (2-1) took the loss. Ryan McCrystal drove in four runs for Chattanooga with Ruben Ibarra and Julio Carreras both leaving the park on homers. Devin Ortiz picked up three RBIs with one swing of the bat for Knoxville as his shot to center field cleared the fence on the dinger.

Up Next

The second half of the season begins on Tuesday as the Smokies head to Birmingham. The next homestand will start on June 30 when Knoxville hosts Columbus.