Smokies' championship push ends with ugly 13-3 loss at Covenant Health Park

The Knoxville Smokies’ season came to an end Sept. 17 at Covenant Health Park with a 13-3 loss to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, who completed a two-game sweep in the Southern League Divisional Series after winning Game 1 in Alabama.

The Smokies, who were chasing the first playoff series win in Knoxville since 1993, finished the season 73-64, including a 37-31 record at home in their second season at Covenant Health Park.

“We were in a hole super early in the game and just couldn’t claw our way back,” Smokies manager Lance Rymel told Knox News.

Smokies starter Brody McCullough struggled to keep the bases clear, pitching just 2.1 innings before Knoxville turned to the bullpen. McCullough gave up five hits and four runs, striking out six batters and setting the tone for a pitching staff that allowed 14 hits.

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Rocket City took a commanding lead with runs in three consecutive frames, starting with a two-run shot by center fielder Tucker Flint in the second inning. The Trash Pandas smoked three extra-base hits in the third inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-0 lead.

Arjun Nimmala, the No. 1 prospect for the Los Angeles Angels, extended Rocket City’s lead to 7-0 with a solo shot to the left-field bullpen in the fourth inning. Designated hitter Jacob Cozart followed with a two-run moonshot to right field, putting a nail in the coffin as the Trash Pandas took a 9-0 lead.

Knoxville loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning, and an Ariel Armas bloop single gave the Smokies their first run of the night. The Smokies proceeded to strand the bases loaded.

Rocket City added its final four runs in the eighth inning. The Smokies threatened the Trash Pandas with the bases loaded in the ninth, but a strikeout ended the game − and the season − for the Smokies with a 10-run loss.

“If you take a look back at the whole year, we were a really good baseball team throughout it,” Rymel said. “That’s what I’m proud of. Just the work and the professionalism of these guys. That’s big-league stuff.”

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Player of the game: Despite the game being out of hand, center fielder Kane Kepley continued to put his grit on display.

• See ya: Trash Pandas designated hitter Jacob Cozart cleared the scoreboard for a two-run home run in the fourth inning. The late-season call-up went 2-for-3 and added an RBI triple in the ninth inning, driving in the final run of the Smokies’ season.
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• Just missed it: New third baseman Angel Cepeda nearly gave the Smokies life with a sixth-inning grand slam, but the ball traveled just left of the left-field foul pole. He struck out on the next pitch to leave the bases loaded.

• Looking ahead: The Smokies will begin their third season at Covenant Health Park on April 2, 2027, with a three-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts.

See ya: Trash Pandas designated hitter Jacob Cozart cleared the scoreboard for a two-run home run in the fourth inning. The late-season call-up went 2-for-3 and added an RBI triple in the ninth inning, driving in the final run of the Smokies’ season.

Just missed it: New third baseman Angel Cepeda nearly gave the Smokies life with a sixth-inning grand slam, but the ball traveled just left of the left-field foul pole. He struck out on the next pitch to leave the bases loaded.

Looking ahead: The Smokies will begin their third season at Covenant Health Park on April 2, 2027, with a three-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12