HOOVER, Ala. (team release) -- The Tennessee Smokies defeated the Birmingham Barons 2-1 in the rain-shortened finale of the series at Regions Park.

The game was called due to rain in the top of the sixth inning to give the Smokies a series win in the final series of the season between Tennessee and Birmingham.

Tennessee starter Austin Kirk picked up the win in his first Double-A start. Kirk allowed three hits and one earned run in five innings.
Matt Szczur led off the game with a double off of the wall. After Logan Watkins moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt, Justin Bour drove in Szczur for his Southern League leading 107th RBI of the season to give the Smokies an early 1-0 lead.

Tennessee added its second run in the top of the fourth as Mike Burgess brought home Junior Lake on an RBI single to put the Smokies’ advantage at 2-1.

Birmingham would answer in the bottom of the 4th. With one out, Trayce Thompson hit a solo home run to cut the Smokies’ lead to 2-1.

That lead would hold until the top of the sixth inning when the game went into a delay due to inclement weather at 8:04 P.M. local time as the Smokies had runners on the corner and one out. The game was called at 8:38 p.m. as the Smokies.

The Smokies will bus home to Tennessee and will start a 10-game homestand tomorrow night at Smokies Park. The Smokies will first welcome in the Chattanooga Lookouts for the first five games. In tomorrow night’s 5:00 p.m. game, Tennessee will start right-hander Dallas Beeler (4-7, 4.17 ERA) against Chattanooga right-hander Matt Magill (10-6, 3.75 ERA).