Montgomery Biscuits Beat Tennessee Smokies 4-2

[Via email from the Montgomery Biscuits' broadcaster Jon Laaser.]

Matt Spring fueled the offense with a home run and RBI double, while Brian Baker shut down the Smokies as the Biscuits claimed a, 4-2, win in game five of a six-game series on Friday night at Riverwalk Stadium.

The Biscuits jumped out in front against starter Jeremy Papelbon in the second inning. J.T. Hall singled with one out and came home as Spring doubled off the railing above the right-center field wall for a 1-0 lead.

Montgomery added to their lead in the third as Desmond Jennings led off the inning with a double. A batter later, Fernando Cortez reached down and drove a two-run home run to right field for a 3-0 lead.

Biscuits' starter Brian Baker was again sensational for Montgomery. He worked without incident into the fourth inning before finally making a lone mistake. Doug Deeds sent a solo-home run to right field to chop the lead to 3-1. Baker (4-1) ultimately worked six innings for his fourth victory of the season. He allowed just four hits, walking one and striking out three.

It took just one pitch for the Biscuits to get the run back in the bottom of the inning. Spring led off with his second home run of the series and fifth of the season to extend the lead back to 4-1. For Spring it marked his fourth consecutive at-bat with an extra-base hit.

Neal Frontz worked a scoreless seventh before Eddie Morlan retired the side in order in the eighth and got the first out of the ninth. Mike Wlodarczyk allowed a run but got the second out of the inning. Paul Phillips was summoned to record the final out of the ballgame, earning his first save of the season in the process.

Papelbon (2-4) was saddled with the loss over 3 2/3 innings, conceding four runs, two home runs and seven total hits. The Biscuits now hold a three games to two lead in the series.

The series will conclude on Saturday night at 7:05 PM at Riverwalk Stadium. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 1.85) will make the start for Montgomery against RHP Jay Jackson (4-3, 2.95) for Tennessee.