With the regular season winding down, the Smokies still found themselves looking up at Chattanooga in the North Division standings entering last week.  Despite dropping the series to the Lookouts early in the week, the Smokies managed to gain ground, moving within a game by Sunday night.
Eric Jokisch and Rebel Ridling carried the load in Monday’s 9-2 win over the Lookouts.  The left-handed Jokisch fanned 10 in his Smokies Park debut and Ridling collected four RBIs on the night, as the Smokies put up all nine runs from the fifth inning on.
The Smokies welcomed Cubs pitcher Andrew Cashner back to Smokies Park for a rehab start Tuesday, but fell behind and were unable to recover in the 6-4 loss.  Ridling drove in three runs and the Smokies came within two runs in the eighth, but couldn’t mount a late rally in the final frame.
Ha and Ridling continued their offensive tear Wednesday, and the offense racked up 14 hits as the Smokies cruised to an 8-3 win.  Trey McNutt turned in a quality start and Kevin Rhoderick and Rafael Dolis locked things down out of the bullpen as the Smokies evened the series at two games apiece.
Chattanooga jumped ahead early and never looked back in the rubber match Thursday, going on to win by a 10-4 margin.  Jae-Hoon Ha went deep and drove in two runs on the night, but the Lookouts roughed up the Smokies’ pitching staff from start to finish.
Defending league champion Jacksonville returned to Smokies Park Friday, and the Smokies started the series off with a bang in the 7-3 win.  Jonathan Mota went deep in the seventh with a two-run shot, giving the Smokies enough cushion to hold on in the series opener.
A three-run sixth inning propelled the Smokies to another win Saturday, as they knocked off the Suns 5-4.  Ty Wright hit a two-run double and Mota brought in another run with an RBI groundout, giving the Smokies a lead they wouldn’t surrender.
Jacksonville starter Brad Hand silenced the Smokies bats and provided his own run support as the Suns won Sunday’s contest 6-2.  The left-handed pitcher hurled 5.2 scoreless innings and drove in three runs, and a pair of eighth inning runs weren’t enough for the Smokies in the loss.
The Smokies wrap up their series with Jacksonville on Tuesday, then hit the road for their final series of the season, a five-game set at Birmingham starting Wednesday.  For playoff tickets or more information, call (865) 286-2300, or visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.

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