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Braves Blow 3-0 Lead, Lose 4-3 on Mets’ Walk-off in 9th
There’s a chance that R.A. Dickey made the last start of his career Tuesday, and if so then he finished in impressive if not entirely satisfying fashion.
The 42-year-old Braves knuckleballer, who hasn’t decided whether he’ll continue pitching after this season, took a two-hit shutout to the seventh inning before allowing two runs and getting no decision in 4-3 loss against his former Mets team at Citi Field.
The Braves blew an early three-run lead and gave up four runs in the final three innings, losing on Travis Taijeron’s walk-off hit over Jace Peterson’s head with one out in the ninth.
It was a 3-0 lead before Dickey gave up a two-run homer to Kevin Plawecki in the seventh inning, and the Mets tied it in the eighth after a two-base throwing error by third baseman Johan Camargo set up an unearned run on an Asdrubal Cabrera sacrifice fly.
Ender Inciarte, who earlier got his 200th hit of the season, made a spectacular diving catch in the left-center gap on Cabrera’s sacrifice fly to prevent a would-be two-run hit on the play.
The Mets completed their comeback win in the ninth when Plawecki led off with a single against rookie left-hander A.J. Minter, who then walked Dominic Smith – the first walk issued by Minter in 14 major league appearances – before getting a strikeout and giving up a walk-off hit to Taijeron, who hit a long fly and was credited with a single because he was mobbed by teammates and never touched second base.
Dickey was charged with five hits, two runs and no walks with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, and received a warm ovation from many in the crowd of 21,938 as he left the field in the seventh inning at Citi Field. He’s still appreciated by Mets fans after emerging as a frontline pitcher with their team from 2010 through 2012 including 20 wins and a Cy Young Award in his final season in New York before he was traded to Toronto.
The Braves have an $8 million option on his contract for 2018 and haven’t said whether they’ll pick it up. But it’s believed the decision rests more with Dickey and that he’d likely be brought back by the Braves if he decides to keep pitching instead of calling it a career and staying home in Nashville, where he lives with his wife and four kids.
Dickey could start the final game of the season Sunday at Miami or the Braves could have rookie Max Fried make that start. Dickey said he’d sit down with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez to discuss that situation Wednesday.
After six innings, the Braves had a 3-0 lead and the Mets had only one more hit than Dickey, who singled in the third inning. The Braves staked him to a lead before he threw a pitch, getting a run in the first when Ender Inciarte led off the game with a double that was his 200th hit of the season and scored on a two-out double by Nick Markakis.
The Braves pushed the lead to 3-0 with two runs in the second inning on Peterson’s run-scoring double and Ozzie Albies’ two-out RBI single.
Dickey had a shutout going until the seventh, when Brandon Nimmo singled with one out and Plawecki followed with a long home run on a knuckleball that didn’t move. Two batters later, Dickey gave up a triple to Amed Rosario and was replaced by rookie reliever Dan Winkler, who struck out Taijeron to protect the lead.
Winkler pitched on consecutive days for the first time since returning from his second major elbow surgery.
When Dickey gave up eight runs including three homers in five innings of a 10-5 loss at Washington on June 13, then said afterward that he could tell he was close to turning a corner from mediocrity to good again, reporters could be excused for thinking he might be delusional.
But he proved he knew what he was talking about six days later when he fired seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball against the Giants. Beginning with that game, Dickey posted a 4-2 record and 2.12 ERA in 10 starts through Aug. 13, lasting at least six innings in nine of those 10 games and allowing one or no earned runs in seven of 10.
Then, just when it looked like it would be a no-brainer decision for Dickey to keep pitching beyond 2017 and for the Braves to pick up his option for 2018, he began a late-season slump in which he was 1-3 with a 6.55 ERA and .333 opponents’ average in six starts from Aug. 18 through Sept. 16.
But he ended that skid as Dickey tends to – emphatically. After giving up five or more runs in three consecutive starts, Dickey limited the Nationals to just four hits and two runs in a season-high eight innings for his 10th win of the season and the 120th win of his career.
He followed that up with an outing that was shaping up to be even better Tuesday until Plawecki disrupted things in the seventh inning. Still, Dickey has allowed just nine hits and four runs in 14 2/3 innings over his past two starts. And after issuing 12 walks in 34 1/3 innings during those previous six starts, he’s walked none in his past two outings
9/26/17 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Susie Brown, 52 — Pizza Winner!
Donnie Lovelady
Two Manchester Schools put on Lockdown for around an Hour on Tuesday
Outside Westwood Middle School during the Lockdown on Tuesday… Photo by Tiffany Clutter.
Manchester City Schools Director Lee Wilkerson and school leaders placed Westwood Middle and Elementary schools on lockdown. The elementary school was placed on lockdown because of the proximity to the middle school.
The lockdown was lifted about an hour later after was is being called bathroom graffiti was investigated by Manchester Police, who determined there was no credible threat.
More on Former Tullahoma High School Co-Band Director’s Federal Arrest
Martin Drew McFarlane jail intake photo.
According federal court documents, McFarlane appeared before a federal magistrate on Aug. 24 on charges of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
The indictments allege that McFarlane transported by the internet pornography of “minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” He is also accused in the federal indictments of “knowingly possessing child pornography” that had been “mailed and shipped and transported” by computer.
According to the federal court documents, McFarlane faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 if convicted.
He cannot possess any type of computer while awaiting a trial.
According to the court documents, all motions in the case are to be filed no later than Oct. 3. If a plea bargain is reached on the charges, it will be heard on Oct. 17. If not, then a final pretrial Status conference will be held on Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. EST. If no agreement is reached then a trial will be held in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga on Oct. 31. At 9 a.m.
If he is convicted of the charges, McFarlane will be required to forfeit two cell phones, computer, a laptop and a tablet.
McFarlane is represented by a Federal Public Defender. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Brooks is prosecuting the case.
The FBI along with the Tullahoma Police conducted a search of his residence on Castle Walk on May 11 in search of the pornography. While conducting that search they allegedly found marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He appeared in Coffee County General Sessions Court on the drug charges and was given a suspended 11 months 29-day sentence, a $250 fine, court cost and report to the Coffee County Probation office. He resigned from his job at the school.
Another Appeal Denied for Man who Killed a Manchester Woman
Jacob Pearman
Jacob Pearman originally argued six reasons his conviction should be overturned this past May. Some of the stated arguments included the trial court denying his motion for a change of venue and another suggested the courts abused their discretion in declining to strike a juror for cause. All six motions were denied by the appeals court in Nashville.
Pearman choked and beat his wife, Carla, to death in 2013. Carla Pearman was the former Carla Dillard of Manchester and was a 2002 graduate of Coffee County High School. He admitted to how he killed her during a police interview after he was arrested.
He was sentenced to life in prison by Circuit Court Judge David Bragg after the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in early 2015.
On Thursday, September 21, 2017, the Tennessee Supreme Court denied his appeal from moving forward. Ironically, that denial fell on Pearman’s 35th birthday.
Pearman will remain behind bars for life. He will be eligible for parole at age 90 in year 2073. (WGNS Radio)
Gas Prices Falling
Gas prices are on a steep slide after reaching 3-year highs due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Prices surged when Harvey struck refineries along the gulf coast, then remained elevated as demand spiked in the southeast following Hurricane Irma. Now supply and demand levels are returning to normal, and prices are on the decline.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said if it weren’t for the recent hurricanes, gas prices would be about 25 cents lower. He said gas prices in the southeastern U.S. should drop another 5-10 cents this week.
The average price in Tennessee has declined for the last 14 consecutive days, for a total discount of 8 cents, since peaking at $2.60 on September 10th. Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.50. That’s 7 cents less than a week ago and 37 cents more than a year ago. The national average is $2.57.
The low price in Coffee County this week is $2.38 in Manchester and in Tullahoma it’s $2.39.
9/29/17–Frank A. Greene III
Frank A. Greene III of Tullahoma, passed this life on Monday, September 25,
2017 at the age of 63 years. Graveside services are scheduled for Friday,
September 29, 2017 at 11 AM at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
A native of Memphis, TN, he was the son of the late Frank “Buddy” Austin
Greene Jr. and the late Hazel Corinne Dance Greene. He was a U S Army
veteran and served at Ft Riley in Kansas as a military policeman and game
warden. He was a member of the Church of Christ at Cedar Lane. He loved
working in his yard and was a “Jack of all trades”. He enjoyed
photography,
fishing, riding motorcycles and going to the beach.
Mr. Greene is survived by son, Jason Greene and his wife, Melissa of
Nashville; daughter, Jordan Garner and her husband, Donald of Smyrna;
step-daughter, Trudy Kendrick and her husband, Norman of Cartersville, GA;
brothers, Richard Short and his wife, Lisa of Eads, TN and Anthony Short
and his wife, Tanya Beth of Olive Branch, MS; sisters, Norma Tinsley and
her husband, Tim of Burlison, TX and Barbara Douglas and her husband, Ron
of Norfolk, CA and grandchildren, Olivia and Trey Greene, Jared and Jude
Garner and Assata and Bryana Christman.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
CHS Golf Wins Region; Punches Ticket to State Tournament
Members of the Coffee County golf team with their region championship plaque. Pictured are: (left to right) head coach Mike Ray, Chase Hancock, Matthew Hale, Reid Lawrence, Samuel Prater, Josh Perry, Austin Farris and coach Lucky Knott [Photo by Demarco Moore, Manchester Times]
Coach Mike Ray was pleased with the historic result and had this to say on Monday night:
2017 is the 5th straight year for a Red Raider state qualifier for the state tournament. The Red Raiders shot a team score of 300. Coffee County was led by Samuel Prater who had a 71. That was good enough to earn him 2nd individual medalist honors. Austin Farris shot a 73, Reid Lawrence carded a 76, Josh Perry finished with an 80 and Matthew Hale got around in 82 strokes. The Red Raiders are coached by Mike Ray and Lucky Knott. After the match, Coach Ray had this to say about Lucky Knott, who rejoined the team this season:
The TSSAA state golf tournament will take place on October 3rd and 4th at Manchester’s own Willowbrook Golf Club. Admission to attend each round is $8 per person. Thunder Radio will keep you updated on tee times daily during the tournament. A select number of golf carts will be available to rent for spectators who meet ADA requirements and complete the Accommodation Request Form and file it with TSSAA in advance of the State Championships. For more information, you can check out the TSSAA website at: http://tssaasports.com/golf/
CCMS Cross Country Runners Qualify for State Meet
Greenlee Woods of CCMS Cross Country
The Coffee County Middle School Cross Country team qualified 3 runners for the TMSAA state cross country meet with a strong performance on Saturday. Competing in the middle Tennessee Sectional Meet at Riverdale, Coffee County’s Greenlee Woods, Jacob Rutledge and Ethan Welch all posted qualifying times to advance to the state meet in Clarksville. Coach Nathan Wanuch was ecstatic with the performance of all of his young runners.
Facing a field of 113 runners from more than 16 schools, 6th grader Greenlee Woods ran a time of 14:31 over the 2 mile course to finish in 7th place and punch her ticket to state. H.K Sherrill posted a time of 21:07.
For the boys, Jacob Rutledge continued his strong season as he posted a time of 12:26, just 4 seconds off the race winner. That placement was good enough for 3rd place and a qualifying berth. Ethan Welch finished in 20th place with a time of 13:30. Welch qualified based on his time. Other Coffee County runners and their time and place were: Brayton Anderson(54th place) 14:51; Ethan Beaty(81st) 15:37; Bradley Escue(87th) 15:44 and Clayton Bryant(124th) 19:44. The Red Raiders finished in 11th place, out of 19 teams, in the team standings.
The middle school runners will travel to Clarksville, on the property of the Hilldale Family Life Center, on Saturday, October 7th for the TMSAA State Meet. The girls’ race will begin at 11:20 AM and the boys’ race to follow at 12 noon.
The middle school and high school cross country teams will compete on Tuesday at the Jiffy Burger – Red Raider Run starting at 4:00pm at the Old Stone Fort Golf Course.
Former Tullahoma Co-Band Director Indicted for Distribution of Child Pornography
Martin Drew McFarlane jail intake photo.
Now according to the FBI, McFarlane has been indicted for distribution of child pornography. The indictment was issued after a presentation of evidence to a federal grand jury in Chattanooga.