Smokies earn win, honor Dolly in final home series opener before playoffs

With a pink “9-5” painted behind the batter’s box at Covenant Health Park, the Knoxville Smokies honored Dolly Parton and took a 12-3 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts to open the final home series of the regular season Sept. 1.

The tribute to Parton, who died Aug. 25 at age 80, included a pregame moment of silence for the “Queen of Country Music.”

“We won another one for Dolly, for sure,” Smokies manager Lance Rymel told Knox News.

Smokies pitcher Kevin Valdez retired the first 11 batters of the game until issuing a four-pitch walk in the fourth inning. Knoxville left fielder Carter Trice responded in the bottom of the frame, depositing a three-run blast over the left field fence to put the Smokies on the board first.

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The Lookouts cut the deficit to a single run in the sixth inning, but a Karson Simas triple to clear the bases gave Knoxville a 7-2 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Right fielder Alex Ramirez provided the second bases-clearing hit of the night as part of a five-run eighth inning.

“I think that bases-clearing triple really kind of put the nail in the coffin,” Rymel said.

The Smokies earned 11 walks in the game, tying their season high, and produced seven hits.

Player of the game: Shortstop Karson Simas reached base three times in the win, breaking open the game with a triple that put the Lookouts in the rearview mirror. “It’s big,” Simas told Knox News. “It gets the team morale going a little bit to know we can beat good teams like this.”

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• Honoring Dolly Parton: The pregame tribute included a video of Parton singing “I Will Always Love You.” Her songs echoed in the stadium throughout the game.

• Walking down the line: The Smokies drew 11 walks against the Lookouts, which tied their season high from Opening Day against the Birmingham Barons on April 3. “We weren’t just giving up free, easy outs,” Rymel said.

• Clearing ’em all: The Smokies loaded the bases twice in the win and recorded a bases-clearing hit both times. “Any time you execute with runners in scoring positions, you’re going to usually end up on the good side,” Rymel said. “I thought we did a really good job of that tonight.”

Honoring Dolly Parton: The pregame tribute included a video of Parton singing “I Will Always Love You.” Her songs echoed in the stadium throughout the game.

Walking down the line: The Smokies drew 11 walks against the Lookouts, which tied their season high from Opening Day against the Birmingham Barons on April 3. “We weren’t just giving up free, easy outs,” Rymel said.

Clearing ’em all: The Smokies loaded the bases twice in the win and recorded a bases-clearing hit both times. “Any time you execute with runners in scoring positions, you’re going to usually end up on the good side,” Rymel said. “I thought we did a really good job of that tonight.”

Knoxville is 1-0 in the series after Tuesday’s win. Here are the remaining promotions for the playoff-bound Smokies at Covenant Health Park while the Lookouts are in town:

• 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2: All-You-Can-Eat Wednesday (buffet available for $29 in advance or $34 day of game)

• 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3: Thirsty Thursday (half-price draft beer), Knox Vegas (themed jerseys), College Night ($10 tickets for college students)

• 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4: Chick-fil-A Friday (two tickets and two coupons for $48), Feel-Good Friday, Knoxville Ice Bears Night in collaboration with Vols of Honor

• 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5: Fan Appreciation Night, Summer Fireworks Series

• 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6: No promotions scheduled

7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2: All-You-Can-Eat Wednesday (buffet available for $29 in advance or $34 day of game)

7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3: Thirsty Thursday (half-price draft beer), Knox Vegas (themed jerseys), College Night ($10 tickets for college students)

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4: Chick-fil-A Friday (two tickets and two coupons for $48), Feel-Good Friday, Knoxville Ice Bears Night in collaboration with Vols of Honor

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5: Fan Appreciation Night, Summer Fireworks Series

2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6: No promotions scheduled

The Smokies have already clinched a playoff spot by capturing the first-half title and are in first place in the Southern League North.

Knoxville Smokies (30-27 second half, 68-58 overall)

Rocket City Trash Pandas (30-27 second half, 65-60 overall)

Birmingham Barons (29-29 second half, 55-72 overall)

Chattanooga Lookouts (19-39 second half, 56-71 overall)

Pensacola Blue Wahoos (37-20 second half, 73-53 overall)

Columbus Clingstones (31-27 second half, 59-62 overall)

Montgomery Biscuits (29-28 second half, 64-62 overall)

Biloxi Shuckers (25-33 second half, 60-63 overall)

** Records reflect the standings as of 10 p.m. Sept. 1.

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

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Smokies earn win, honor Dolly in final home series opener before playoffs

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