The Birmingham Barons used a seven-run second inning to bolster their 9-8 win over the Lookouts Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Field.
Birmingham had five players with at two hits in their 13 total hit parade. Nick Buss led the Lookouts with three hits, including two triples, giving him three on the year.
The Barons wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. Drew Garcia drew a one-out base on balls and with two away Corey Smith was hit by a pitch.
With runners at first and second Seth Loman popped a two-out single into right, scoring Garcia.
Jared Mitchell ended the threat with the third strike out of the inning by Lookout starter Matt Magill.
However, Magill found himself bombarded in the top of the second as Birmingham hit for the cycle and pushed seven runs across the plate to take an 8-0 lead.
Luis Sierra reached on a one-out single and moved to second on Justin Greene's one base hit. Tyler Saladino walked to load the bases and was followed by a Garcia triple chasing home three RBI's.
Andy Wilkins then singled scoring Garcia and Smith doubled to bring in another RBI. The circus ended with a Seth Loman two-run shot over the center field wall.
The Lookouts finally breached the scoring column in the third inning when Anthony Jackson walked and was chased home on a Pedro Baez double down the left field line to make the score 8-1.
In the sixth the Lookouts bats finally came to life. Buss connected on a single to center field and then occupied second on a wild pitch. Baez took a base on balls and Travis Denker doubled to crenter scoring Buss and moving Baez to third. A Brian Cavazos-Galvez groundout sent Baez home. The scoring ended at three runs when a Luis Nunez double chased Denker home to make the score 8-4.
Birmingham came back in the seventh to plate their ninth run of the game. With Luis Vasquez on in relief of Javier Solano, Jared Mitchell streoked a two-out single and promptly stole second. Jose Martinez followed with another single thart scored Mitchell to run the score to 9-4.
However, the Lookouts weren't finished just yet. Jackson walked with one out and then scored on Buss' triple. Baez then looped one into center allowing Buss to race home. After a Blake Smith base on balls, the Barons brought in Henry Mabee to face Travis Denker who welcomed the reliever with a sharp line drive to left to load the bases.
Brian Cavazos-Galvez flied out foul to first baseman Wilkins. The Lookouts ended their scoring when Luis Nunez singled to left scoring Baez and Smith to put the score at 9-8.
Chattanooga did threaten in the eighth when Buss laced a rocket past the Barons first baseman for a two-out triple, hics second of the game, but languished there as Baez grounded out, 5-3.
Birmingham 170 000 100 9 13 0
Chattanooga 001 003 400 8 11 0
Box Score
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l111&t=g_box&gid=2012_04_18_biraax_cngaax_1
Attendance: 2,170
Time: 3:18
Current Series: Barons lead three games to one. Birmingham has outscored the Lookouts by a 19-16 margin. The two teams meet for the fifth and final game of the series Thursday evening at 7:15. Gates open at 6 p.m. Probable Starters for Thursday: Birmingham RHP Matt Zaleski (0-0, 0.00) vs. Chattanooga RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 2.45).
Lookouts Leaders in the Southern League:
- HR: Cavazos-Galvez, Russell tied-4th (2)
- SB: Ynoa tied-4th (4)
- SLG%: Russell 5th (.575)
- K's: Miller tied-4th (17)
- Walks: Martin 1st (15), Miller 5th (10)
- WHIP: Patterson 4th (0.87)
(Staff Writer Dennius Norwood can be emailed at dennis.norwood@att.net)