SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - The hits kept coming Wednesday night for the Tennessee Smokies, 14 to be exact. Unfortunately for the home team the Mississippi Braves’ hits did much more damage, cleared the fences twice en route to an 8-5 win over the Smokies in front of 4,057 at Smokies Park.

David Patton’s rehab start for the Tennessee Smokies Wednesday night was a tale of two halves. Recovering from a strained right groin, the Chicago Cubs reliever looked good in the first. He threw seven of his 10 pitches in the frame for strikes, retiring the M-Braves in order.

Mississippi would get to Patton in the second though. After putting runners on first and second, Travis Jones belted the first of two home runs for the M-Braves on the night. Jones’ shot gave Mississippi an early 3-0 lead. The frame would be the last for Patton (0-1), as he left after allowing the three runs on two hits, striking out one and walking one in his 35-pitch evening.

Welington Castillo brought the crowd to their feet in the fifth, as his solo shot off Mississippi starter Ryne Reynoso (8-2) gave the Smokies their first run of the game and cut Mississippi’s lead to 4-1.

The M-Braves answered immediately in the top of the sixth. Freddie Freeman’s two-run home run increased Mississippi’s lead to 6-1. Another two runs on Jones’ double put the M-Braves up 8-1.

Tennessee would respond with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Tony Thomas brought home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. Blake Lalli then hit a double to right, scoring Doug Deeds and cutting their deficit to five runs.

Two more runs by the Smokies in the ninth cut the M-Braves lead to 8-5. But with two outs and Marquez Smith on second, M-Braves reliever Deunte Heath struck out Tyler Colvin to end the game and the Smokies’ final threat.

Mississippi and Tennessee play Game 3 of their five-game series Thursday night at 7:15 at Smokies Park. Jeff Lyman (4-6, 3.58) gets the start for Mississippi and will face off against Hung-Wen Chen (5-7, 5.18) for Tennessee. Former Atlanta Braves great Dale Murphy will be making a guest appearance. Details about this exciting night can be found at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

(smokiesbaseball.com)