BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Tennessee scored three first-inning runs and held on to beat Birmingham 8-7 on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Regions Field. The Smokies improved to 72-61, while the Barons fell to 58-75 in the Southern League matchup. Tennessee outhit Birmingham 12-7. The Smokies added two runs in the third on Ariel Armas’ two-run homer and three in the sixth. Birmingham tied the game with Samuel Zavala’s three-run homer in the third and pulled within one on Zavala’s sixth-inning double and a double play. Zavala finished 2 for 3 with four RBIs. Josiah Hartshorn drove in two runs for Tennessee. Grayson Moore earned the win in relief, Tyler Ras saved it with two hitless innings and four strikeouts, and Liam Paddack took the loss. Caleb Bonemer homered for Birmingham. Tennessee made two sacrifice flies and grounded into two double plays. The game drew 3,211 fans and lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes.