JACKSON, TENN.- The Lookouts were hoping to end their first half play with three consecutive wins over Jackson, the Southern League North Division winners. It was not to be. Jackson captured the rubber match of the five-game set against Chattanooga, 7-5.
The Generals finished the first half with the best record in the Southern League at 42-28. The Lookouts ended the half at 32-36 - nine games out of first place.
Kyle Russell started the scoring for Chattanooga in the top of the first with a run scoring single placing the Lookouts on top 1-0.
Leury Bonilla gave Jackson the lead for the first time in the bottom of the third inning with a 2-RBI single to center. Jackson led 2-1.
The Lookouts picked up RBI's from Ryan Lemmerman, Nick Buss, Blake Smith and Rafael Ynoa in the fourth to re-take the lead 5-2.
Starting pitcher Chris Reed, who has been limited to pitching three innings, gave up two runs on four hits. Reed was the Dodgers' first round selection (16th overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Sunday's game was his third start since joining the Lookouts.
Jackson again had an answer as Bonilla capped off a four-run bottom of the fifth with a 3-run home run to left off losing pitcher, Wes Roemer (0-1), giving Jackson a 6-5 edge. Joe Dunigan produced an insurance run in the eighth and Jackson went on to win 7-5. Roemer went four innings, giving up five runs but none of the runs were earned.
Jackson used six pitchers in the game and lefty reliever Mauricio Robles (1-0) came away with the win. Robles fired two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth. Carter Capps pitched the final 1.1 innings and earned his ninth save.
Inning-by-inning Recap.
Box Score
The Lookouts will enjoy the All-Star break Monday-Wednesday and resume play for the start of the second half on Thursday, hosting the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds).
Although the Lookouts had no .300 hitters in the first half, Blake Smith finished at .298.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt