The Smokies are heating up at just the right time. On Saturday night at Covenant Health Park, Knoxville secured their third straight win over the Birmingham Barons, taking a 4-3 victory and clinching the series with one game left to play on Sunday.

After splitting a doubleheader earlier in the week, the Smokies found their rhythm and never looked back. The scoring started in the second inning when catcher Ariel Armas crushed a two-run homer, giving Knoxville an early lead. But the Barons, hungry to break free from the tight battle for second place in the Southern League North, answered back in the top of the sixth. A combination of an RBI groundout and a costly Smokies throwing error put Birmingham ahead 3-2.

Knoxville refused to fold. In the bottom of the sixth, Owen Ayers launched a solo home run to tie the game, igniting the home crowd. Moments later, Edgar Alvarez delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Alex Ramirez, putting the Smokies back on top 4-3. From there, the bullpen held firm, and the defense tightened up to preserve the lead.

With the series already in hand, the Smokies look to complete a sweep on Sunday afternoon. For a team finding its stride, this kind of momentum is exactly what every clubhouse dreams of—and what every fan loves to see.