Two Lookouts players dumped gatorade over the head of manager Razor Shines before he reached the clubhouse.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Chattanooga Lookouts are now playoff bound after sweeping a double-header against the Tennessee Smokies to clinch the Southern League North Division for the second half of the season.
The first game of the double-header was backed by a masterful gem of a game thrown by the starter for the Lookouts, Steve Smith (W, 3-2). Smith dominated the Smokies' lineup from top to bottom, throwing a seven-inning complete game shutout. He only allowed four hits spread out in four separate innings and only faced more than four hitters in any single inning once. It was Smith's second complete game shutout of the season, with the other coming on August 10th against the Montgomery Biscuits in another seven-inning affair.
All of the Lookouts' bats were getting in on the action in game one, as only Smith and Daniel Mayora went hitless. Each of those other seven who got a hit also scored a run, but it was Corey Seager who stood out above the rest. Seager came up to bat with one out and Scott Schebler standing on second base in the bottom of the fifth inning. He took no time smacking a ball out of the park to right-center field. Seager brought in his third and fourth RBI of the game in the very next inning by pushing a single through the hole on the left side of the infield.
Matt Shelton, the Lookouts' starter for game two of the double-header, tried his hardest to not be out-shined by Smith's wonderful performance in game one. Shelton worked through five innings, striking out eight during his time on the mound. His only blemish of the night was giving up a two-run single to Johnson, the opposing pitcher.
Shelton left the game without the lead at the time, but a pinch-hitting appearance by Chris O'Brien in the sixth inning changed their fortunes. O'Brien came out of the dugout with the Lookouts down 2-1, but with men on first and second base. After a wild pitch moved them over, O'Brien smashed a triple into center field just past the diving Albert Almora of the Smokies to give the Lookouts the 3-2 win they needed to clinch the playoff berth.
Corey Seager hits a two-run homer.
Game two started out quiet, but that changed quickly with a Scott Schebler at-bat in the third inning. Opposing pitcher Pierce Johnson left a hanging breaking ball over the plate and Schebler smashed the ball 404 feet out to center at an estimated 105 MPH off the bat.
Matt Shelton, the Lookouts' starter for game two of the double-header, tried his hardest to not be out-shined by Smith's wonderful performance in game one. Shelton worked through five innings, striking out eight during his time on the mound. His only blemish of the night was giving up a two-run single to Johnson, the opposing pitcher.
Matt Shelton was outstanding.
Shelton left the game without the lead at the time, but a pinch-hitting appearance by Chris O'Brien in the sixth inning changed their fortunes. O'Brien came out of the dugout with the Lookouts down 2-1, but with men on first and second base. After a wild pitch moved them over, O'Brien smashed a triple into center field just past the diving Albert Almora of the Smokies to give the Lookouts the 3-2 win they needed to clinch the playoff berth.
Chris O'Brien plated what proved to be the winning runs.
Game one: Box
Game two: Box
The final regular season game of the season for the Lookouts is a special afternoon game in celebration of Labor Day at 2:15 pm. Lookouts' starter Jeremy Kehrt (2-0, 2.08) will try to end the season on a high note against Smokies RHP Ivan Pineyro (0-3, 5.44).
Manager Razor Shines hugs catcher Chris O'Brien.
photo by Tim Evearitt