Smokies start series with bases-loaded rally, 5-4 win over Biscuits in Knoxville

The Knoxville Smokies, trailing at home by two runs in the eighth inning, rallied for a 5-4 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on July 8 in the first of six games at Covenant Health Park.

Down by two and with the bases loaded, Casey Opitz drove in a run and Jordan Nwogu was hit by a pitch to tie the game. Pedro Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Smokies the lead.

Brad Deppermann (3-1) earned the win, and A.J. Puckett closed the door in the ninth for the save. With the win, the Smokies improve to 7-6 in the second half and to 39-42 overall.

“I’ve been working on my pitch selection, getting my pitch to hit, and just trying to do damage with it,” said outfielder Andy Garriola, who knocked two hits and scored a run. “Hopefully, just keep it rolling.”

Sam Armstrong started for Knoxville, allowing four earned runs over 4.1 innings. Nick Hull, Mitchell Tyranski and Deppermann combined for 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Reliever A.J. Puckett pitched a clean ninth inning to secure the save, while JJ Goss (1-4) took the loss for Montgomery.

Garriola finds his groove: How the runs came together for Smokies

The Biscuits (45-37) had led since the fifth when Gregory Barrios drove in two runs to extend the lead to 4-1. Knoxville (39-42) cut into the deficit with an RBI single from Jaylen Palmer in the bottom of the frame.

Pedro Ramirez went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Garriola, who was assigned to the Smokies on July 1 from South Bend, said he has found his groove after adding two hits and drawing a walk.

“The vibes are great, the team’s great, the chemistry’s amazing,” he said. “It’s great to start the week with a W, so let’s have a good week, win a series and then get back home for the All-Star break.”

The series continues July 9, with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. at Covenant Health Park.

Knox News reporter Gabriel Jackson covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC. Email: [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies turn bases-loaded rally into 5-4 win over Biscuits