Starting pitcher Zach Lee did not last long for the Lookouts after the Smokies hit him for five first-inning runs. Things looked bleak after Chattanooga found itself trailing by six runs. However, the Lookouts kept their heads up and rallied for 11 runs to beat Tennessee, 11-6 before a large holiday crowd at AT&T Field.
After scoring five runs in the first, another run was added to the Smokies’ total in the top of the third. The Lookouts began the long climb back with a run of their own in the bottom portion of the inning. Blake Smith led off with a single and eventually came home on a Luis Nunez double to left.
Chattanooga kept chipping away at the Smokies’ lead in the fifth with another run. Brahiam Maldonado led off the inning by legging out a triple. After a Pedro Baez strikeout, Nunez hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Maldonado.
The Lookouts’ resiliency paid off when four runs crossed the plate to tie the game in the sixth. Nick Buss began the rally with a triple, which resulted in him crossing home on a relay throwing error by second baseman Logan Watkins. Blake Smith then nailed a single and advanced to third on a subsequent triple from Maldonado. Baez then struck out, but Nunez came through with a two-RBI single to extend the rally. A throwing error by center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha on the play allowed Nunez to advance to third on the play, which allowed him to score on a forthcoming single by Jake Lemmerman. After the dust settled, the Lookouts found themselves tied, 6-6.
Chattanooga kept the offensive pressure on in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Pedro Baez drew a walk from Kevin Rhoderick (2-4) to give the Lookouts a lead they would not relinquish. Nunez put the game away with a grand slam home run to make it, 11-6.
Logan Bawcom prevented the Smokies from scoring in the ninth, preserving the win for Steven Ames (1-1), who pitched the eighth for the Lookouts.
Inning by inning Recap of the game.
Box Score
The Lookouts will hit the road Wednesday to play three against the Huntsville Stars and then three more against the Tennessee Smokies. The Lookouts will return home on Wednesday, July 11th to play a three-game homestand against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Tickets for these games or any other Lookouts home game can be purchased at the Lookouts Box Office at AT&T Field, online at www.lookouts.com, or by calling (423) 267-4849.