With family and friends among the 4,628 fans watching, Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer and a double leading Mississippi to a 3-2 win over the Lookouts at BellSouth Park.
Chattanooga took a 2-0 lead off Matt Wright in the second inning. Bryan Anderson doubled and pitcher Richie Gardner singled to left; Anderson crossed home on a ground out and Gardner was plated on Alex Fernandez hit.
Gardner kept the Braves off the scoreboard until the fifth inning when the M-Braves scored all three runs. Francoeur hit a first-pitch fastball for a two-run blast over the left field wall giving Mississippi a 3-2 lead - a lead that held up through nine innings. It was his sixth homer of the year.
"I hadn't had a home run in the last twelve games," said Francoeur following the game. "That felt good. I'd told the guys before the game that I wasn't getting the lift in my hits. I felt relaxed at the plate."
Norris Hopper was the only Lookout in double figures going 2-for-4.
Francoeur showed a strong arm as he threw out Jeff Bannon as he tried to move from first to third on a single to right in the fourth inning. As it turned out, that was a big play in, what ended as a one-run win.
Gardner (2-4) did not pitch badly at all pitching 4.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits.
The Lookouts bullpen performed well Monday. Jeff Bruksch went threw two scoreless innings, Eric Eckenstahler retired the only batter he faced, and Jason Andrews shut out the M-Braves in the eighth and ninth innings.
Wright (3-5) went 6.0 innings scattering six hits but giving up one earned run.
Jorge Vasquez set the Looks down 1-2-3 in the ninth for his fourth save.
Mississippi stranded seven runners in the game; the Lookouts left fvie men on base.
* * * *
The Lookouts send Ben Kozlowski to the mound Tuesday and the M-Braves pitch Matt Coenen. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Wes Timmons tags Jeff Bannon as he slides into third base. Bannon, trying to go from first to third, was thrown out by right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Click to enlarge photo.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt