​Two former University of Tennessee players capped their return to Knoxville with a pair of home runs, powering the Biloxi Shuckers to a 3-1 victory over the Knoxville Smokies in the series finale Sunday, July 12 at Covenant Health Park. Blake Burke launched a two-run homer in the third inning, followed by Andrew Fischer’s solo shot in the eighth, helping Biloxi even the set at three games apiece ahead of the MLB All-Star break and the Smokies’ upcoming road trip.
“Good for those two guys,” Smokies manager Lance Rymel told Knox News. “The last couple of days, they’ve been swinging a hot bat. They’re dangerous.”
In a game that spotlighted two notable UT alumni, Burke’s blast marked only the third time in Shuckers franchise history that a player has joined the 20-homer, 20-stolen-base club in a single season. The Smokies were held to three hits, though right fielder Alex Ramirez broke up the shutout with an RBI single in the eighth, scoring Alex Madera.
Player of the game went to Brody McCullough, the Chicago Cubs’ 10th-round pick in 2022, who returned to the Smokies for his first Double-A pitching appearance since 2024. He worked four innings, yielding two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four. He opened his return by getting Dylan O’Rae on seven pitches for a strikeout, a moment that set the tone for his outing.
The afternoon’s other notable development came in the Smokies’ favor when Karson Simas lined a two-out single into right field in the fifth for Knoxville’s first hit off Shuckers starter Manuel Rodriguez. Burke and Fischer, who did not overlap at UT, achieved a first for both in the same Knoxville game: they became the first pair of former Volunteers to homer in the same game at Covenant Health Park. Fischer commented that it was “cool” to be back and to perform in front of the home crowd, noting the special feeling of playing in Knoxville.
With the All-Star break on the schedule, the Smokies will pause action before resuming with a three-game series in Montgomery starting Friday, July 17. Knoxville will then host a six-game homestand July 28 through August 2, welcoming the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The Smokies have already secured a playoff berth by winning the first-half title and continue to lead the Southern League North Division in the second half standings.
Knoxville Smokies standings and context: 11-7 in the second half, 49-38 overall. The Rocket City Trash Pandas sit at 9-8 in the second half, 44-41 overall, while the Chattanooga Lookouts are 7-10 in the second half and 44-42 overall. The Birmingham Barons sit at 6-12 in the second half and 32-55 overall. The Smokies remain positioned for postseason action as the Southern League race continues.