With 2,526 watching, the Chattanooga Lookouts completed a four-game sweep over the Jacksonville Suns by winning Thursday's late afternoon game, 3-1.
John Koronka (1-1) pitched six innings of shutout ball. Jorge Cordova (S4) struck out the side in the ninth to end the game.
SL All-Star Bobby Darula's two-out double with the bases loaded in the fifth provided all the offence needed.
Tom Nevers, also an SL All-Star, continued his torid hitting going 3-for-4 in the game.
To be perfectly honest, the Lookouts chances of winning the first half of the West Division are poor. Birmingham won Thursday so the Lookouts could not gain any ground - they remain three games behind.
Birmingham begins a four-game series Friday with the Mobile Bay Bears. Mobile entered Thursdays game tied for second with Chattanooga.
Game Summary
John Koronka had control problems (six walks) but he kept the Suns from scoring through six innings.
In the first three innings, however, the Lookouts got runners as far as third base but could not score.
Chattanooga threatened again in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and an 0-2 count, Bobby Darula hit a two-run double down the left field line. Looks 2 Suns 0
Jacksonville threatened in the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Darula made a great catch up against the left field wall for the third out.
In the seventh inning Javier Martinez took over for Koronka and gave up a hit and walk. Manager Wellman went to his pen and brought in Brett Gray. Nick Theodorou's sacrifice fly to center scored the Suns first run but Gray struck out Koyie Hill to end the threat. Looks 2 Suns 1
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Alex Hernandez gave the Lookouts an insurance run. He hit a gigantic homer over the right field pavillion. Looks 3 Suns 1
Lookouts Box Score
Bobby Darula, lf 2-3
Ray Olmedo, ss 0-2
Donny Leon, 3b 0-4
Wily Mo Pena, cf 0-3
Tom Nevers, 2b 3-4
Mike Edwards, 1b 0-4
Dane Sardinha, c 1-3
Alex Hernandez, rf 2-3
John Koronka, p 0-2
- Pedro Santana, ph 1-1
- Javier Martinez, p 0-0
- Brett Gray, p 0-0
- Alejandro Diaz, ph 0-1
- Jorge Cordova, p 0-0
Runs Batted In: Darula (2), Hernandez (1).
Home Runs: Alex Hernandez #2
Left on Base: Jacksonville 10 Chattanooga 9
Jacksonville -- 000 - 000 - 100 -- 1 -7 - 0
Chattanooga - 000 - 200 - 01x -- 3 - 9 - 0
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Friday night the Lookouts play the first of four games with Huntsville where they will finish the first half.
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All games can be heard on AM 1310 or over internet by going to www.lookouts.com.