The Lookouts two-game winning streak ended Thursday as 3,285 fans watched Huntsville edge Chattanooga, 4-3, in an exciting game at BellSouth Park.
The Stars broke open a scoreless game in the fifth inning with two runs; they duplicated that number again in the sixth inning to lead, 4-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, a single by Norris Hopper, a walk to D'Angelo Jimenez was followed by Jeff Bannon's 10th home run of the year. Bannon's blast over the left field wall made it, 4-3.
Chattanooga threatened in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. Junior Ruiz hit a routine fly ball to center to end the threat.
The Suns missed a scoring opportunity in the eighth inning when Tony Gwynn, Jr. was thrown out at the plate on Tony Zuniga's double over the head of Stephen Smitherman. The left fielder hit his relay man Bannon who fired the ball to catcher Ryan Hanigan. Hanigan, who had home plate blocked, tagged out Gwynn.
Lance Caraccioli (5-4) threw six innings giving up three earned runs on eight hits; he walked a batter but struck out five.
Jeff Brutsch amd David Shafer shut out the Stars over the last three innings.
Dana Eveland (6-4) went seven innings scattering seven hits while yielding three earned runs. Mitch Stetter earned a save pitching hitless ball in the eighth and ninth innings.
Huntsville tallied 11 hits in the game to seven by Chattanooga.
The Lookouts stranded six base runners; the Stars left eight men on.
Both Bannon and Ryan Howard were 2-for-4 in the game.
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Right hander Josh Hall comes off the disabled list to start Friday's game for Chattanooga at Huntsville.
On their River Bend Road Trip the Lookouts play two games at Huntsville, three games in Mississippi, and four more in Huntsville before returning home. The Lookouts open the second half of the season against the Barons at BellSouth Park on June 21st.
Each game can be heard at WDOD AM 1310 or over the Internet at www.lookouts.com. The Voice of the Lookouts, Larry Ward, is joined by sidekick Mitch Gillespie in reporting each Lookouts game.
Lance Caraciolli picked up his fourth loss of the season Thursday night.
Click to enlarge photo.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt