Smokies face playoff elimination after 9-2 loss to Trash Pandas
Rocket City leads the best-of-three series 1-0, leaving Knoxville needing two consecutive wins to advance.
The Knoxville Smokies have been pushed to the brink of elimination after losing 9-2 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Game 1 of their Southern League divisional playoff series, according to Yahoo Sports.
Rocket City took an early lead before Knoxville levelled the game at 2-2. Angel Cepeda hit a solo home run in the third inning and Carter Trice doubled home Ariel Armas in the fourth.
Knoxville starter Brooks Caple was charged with three runs on four hits over 5⅓ innings. He walked two batters, hit one and struck out four.
Reliever Tyler Schlaffer conceded five runs on four hits across two innings as the Trash Pandas pulled away. Knoxville managed three hits in total.
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday in Knoxville, with a potential deciding Game 3 on Friday. The Smokies must win both games to progress to the Southern League Championship Series.
Separately, the Iowa Cubs’ game in Omaha was postponed by rain, disrupting scheduled rehabilitation appearances for Dansby Swanson and Gavin Hollowell. Yahoo Sports reported that it had not been decided whether, or when, the game would be rescheduled.
