In the words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over till it's over."
Facing elimination, the Lookouts used a little late-inning magic on Saturday night at AT&T Field to come away with a 1-0 win over Jackson in game three of the best-out-of-five series.
The victory ended a losing streak for Chattanooga who were swept in three games last season by the Tennessee Smokies. Needing just one win to clinch the North Division title, the Generals lead the series, 2-to-1.
Inning by inning recap of the Lookouts win.
Chris Reed, Onelki Garcia, and Jose Dominguez combined to shut out the Jackson Generals through eight straight innings, yielding just two hits and two walks, while cumulatively striking out nine.
Jackson starting pitcher Taijuan Walker pitched a gem of game throwing seven shutout innings before the Lookouts broke the scoreless tie with a run in the eighth.
- Brahiam Maldonado led off the bottom of the eighth with an infield single that involved a throwing error by third baseman Francisco Martinez to advance him to second.
-Maldonado was eventually picked off by catcher Jesus Sucre to temporarily quell any thought of a rally.
-Griff Erickson followed with a double to, once again, give life to the Lookouts.
- Manager Jim Pankovitz went to his bullpen and brought in reliever Jonathan Arias. Rafael Ynoa drove a first-pitch fastball into the left-center gap to easily bring home Erickson.
-After the Ynoa double, Sucre threw out Ynoa trying to steal third, and Nick Buss popped out to second baseman Stefan Romero to end the inning.
Closer Steven Ames set down the first two batters he faced in the ninth inning before Romero singled to bring the dangerous Mike Zunino to the plate. Zunino, who hit two home runs in Game 2, went down swinging for the third and final out of the game.
Box Score
Game 4 of the SLDS series is at AT&T Field at 2:15 P.M., Sunday.
Playoff games can be purchased at the Lookouts Box Office at AT&T Field, online at www.lookouts.com, or by calling (423) 267-4849.
In Southern Division playoff action, Mobile swamped Montgomery, 10-2, and lead their series 2-to-1.
Mike Zunino dumps shortstop Rafael Ynoa on his head but not before Ynoa threw on to first to complete a first inning double play.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt