With an announced crowd of 2,312 looking on at BellSouth Park, Chattanooga opened a five-game series with West Tenn Monday night on a winning note beating the Diamond Jaxx, 6-2.
Josh Hall (6-3) mixed up his pitches well over six innings, giving up just three hits and one run; he walked three and struck out six hitters.
West Tenn’s 20-year old hurler, Sean Gallagher (5-3), went 5 2/3 innings giving up four runs on seven hits; he walked seven batters and fanned three.
Chattanooga had 12 hits in the game (no home runs) to six hits for the visitors. The Lookouts left 11 men on base to five for the D-Jaxx.
David Ross is with the Lookouts as he rehabs before returning to the Reds. He was 1-for-3, with two RBI.
Drew Anderson had his best night as a Lookout going 3-for-4; Luis Bolivar went 2-for-3 with an RBI; Noochie Varner was 2-for-4, and Rick Asadoorian 2-for-4 with an RBI; Anderson Machado went 1-for-3; Gary Patchett was 1-for-1 (pinch hitting) with an RBI.
West Tenn scored first in the third inning, Carlos Rojas struck out swinging but reached base on a wild pitch. Chris Walker’s base hit to left moved Rojas to third. Rojas scored on Eric Patterson’s ground out to second. West Tenn 1 Chattanooga 0
The Lookouts tied the score in the fourth. Varner doubled to right-center, and moved to third on a passed ball by catcher Jake Fox. After Machado walked, Asadoorian grounded into a force out as Varner crossed the plate. West Tenn 1 Chattanooga 1
Chattanooga collected three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
- Machado reached first on an infield hit to short.
- Asadoorian’s bloop hit to right-center resulted in runner’s at the corner and one out.
- A wild pitch on ball four to Chris Dickerson plated Machado.
- A sacrifice bunt moved Dickerson into scoring position at second.
- Ross punched a single to left scoring Asadoorian and Dickerson.
- Manager Pat Listach went to his bullpen for lefty Carlos Vasquez.
- Vasquez walked Joey Votto to load the bases but struck out Noochie Varner Chattanooga 4 West Tenn 1
The Lookouts added a run in the bottom of the seventh on Bolivar’s RBI base hit to left scoring Asadoorian from second base. Chattanooga 5 West Tenn 1
West Tenn scored another run in the eighth off reliever Jon Coutlangus. Chris Walker tripled leading off, and scored on a fielder’s choice. Chattanooga 5 West Tenn 2
Chattanooga got the run back in their half of the inning. Pinch hitter Patchett singled to left to drive in Anderson from third base Chattanooga 6 West Tenn 2
Jim Abbott set the D-Jaxx down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning in a non-save situation.
Standings Second-Half North Division – Tuesday July 25, 2006
Club -------- W L - PCT - GB
Chattanooga* 18 13 .581 ----
Tennessee --- 17 14 .548 1.0
West Tenn --- 16 15 .516 2.0
Huntsville ---- 13 18 .419 5.0
Carolina ----- 12 19 .387 6.0
*First-Half winner
Final Standings First-Half North Division
Chattanooga 44 26 .629 ---
West Tenn -- 43 27 .614 1.0
Carolina ---- 32 38 .457 12.0
Tennessee - 32 38 .457 12.0
Huntsville -- 24 45 .348 19.5
* * * * *
In game two Tuesday night, Eddy Valdez (5-5) faces West Tenn's Chris Shaver (5-6). Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Eric Patterson slides safely into second base with a two-base hit in the first inning.
Click to enlarge photo.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt