​For the third consecutive night, Covenant Health Park fans in Knoxville watched the Smokies fall victim to a six-run sixth inning that proved decisive in the game. The Smokies, however, were the ones on the losing end for the first time in the series on July 9, as Jesus Made delivered a sixth-inning grand slam to lift the Biloxi Shuckers to an 11-2 win. The Smokies were burdened by 14 walks and 12 hits allowed, leaning on four relievers after starter Nick Dean exited with discomfort in the second inning.
“I just didn’t have enough competitive pitches over the plate,” Smokies manager Lance Rymel said to Knox News. “Sometimes it happens like that.”
In the bottom of the fourth, a gasp rolled through the crowd when right fielder Alex Ramirez lined a ball directly into Shuckers pitcher Jaron DeBerry’s glove. Early in the game, Smokies shortstop Ed Howard made a notable play by chasing a blooper into shallow center and catching it, despite a bobble in his throwing hand, for the first out of the inning.
Howard was part of Knoxville’s only multiple-hit effort, as two of the Smokies’ four hits came from him, including a solo homer in the eighth. “It definitely gives us a boost for tomorrow,” Rymel commented. “Seeing one of our guys do that—somebody who plays two or three times a week, comes out, hits a ball like that—he’s definitely going to be in the lineup tomorrow because of it.”
Knoxville will host Biloxi for three more games this week at Covenant Health Park, and several promotions accompany the Shuckers’ stay: July 10 at 7 p.m. is the Summer Fireworks Series with Chick-fil-A Friday benefits (two tickets and two coupons for $48) and Feel-Good Friday; July 11 at 7 p.m. features the Mascot on the Shelf Giveaway (first 1,000 fans receive a mascot on the shelf) along with Christmas in July-themed jerseys and a Summer Fireworks Series; and July 12 at 2 p.m. has no promotions scheduled.
The Smokies have already clinched a playoff spot by winning the first-half title and continue to lead the Southern League North in the second half. Knoxville Smokies (10-5 second half, 48-36 overall) sit atop the standings in the North, followed by Rocket City (8-7, 43-40) and Chattanooga (6-9, 43-41). In the South, Pensacola leads with a 9-6 second half record (45-39 overall), while Biloxi sits at 9-6 (44-36), Columbus at 8-6 (37-41), and Montgomery at 4-11 (39-45). The above records reflect standings as of 10:30 p.m. on July 9.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium content for better SEO.