Lookouts Beat Stars, 7-6, To Win Southern League North Division Title

The fifth game of the first round Southern League North division playoffs, a winner-take-all contest, proved to be a thriller and a nail-biter. After falling behind 2-0 on an early error, the Lookouts bounced back to lead 7-2. The Stars nearly caught Chattanooga in the top of the ninth but behind Daniel Coulombe's stellar effort, the Lookouts held on for a 7-6 win.

Yadiel Rivera singled to lead off the ninth. Pinch-hitter Hainley Statia struck out but pesky Nick Shaw doubled sending Rivera to third with just one out. Orlando Arcia, one of the Brewers top prospects, struck out swinging. Coulombe then uncorked a wild pitch scoring Rivera and moving Shaw to third. The tying run died at third when Shawn Zarraga was called out on strikes.

Manager Razor Shine said, "We were 28 games under .500 at one point in the season but we just had to remain positive. This is the same team that opened the season and I have said that I knew we'd get better." 

20-year old Corey Seager, who is the Dodgers' top prospect and who joined the team on July 17, said, "It is always nice to win. There is great camaraderie in the clubhouse." He, along with a few other Lookouts were in the playoffs with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Chris O'Brien, son of former Braves' catcher Charlie O'Brien, acknowledged that he was too young to be with his dad when Atlanta won the 1995 World Series. "The feeling is great," he said. 

The Stars scored in the second inning on a two-run error by pitcher Nick Struck. After Erik Komatsu dropped in a lazy blooper down the left-field line, Josh Prince walked. Shortstop Yadiel Rivera hit a swinging bunt down third that Struck fielded; he flipped the ball toward an empty third base scoring Komatsu and Prince.

"I felt bad (about the error)," said Struck, "but I regained my concentration. I knew we had plenty of innings left."

In the bottom of the second, pitcher Brent Suter was nailed on a sharp line drive off the bat of Seager. Suter dropped to the ground in severe pain but the ball bounced to first baseman Nick Ramirez for the out.

Suter drops to the ground after being hit on the foot.

 

The Harvard graduate remained in the game. The first batter he faced, Chris O'Brien hit a solo home run over the left-center field wall to cut the lead in half.

The Lookouts took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was O'Brien whose Texas-League single scored Daniel Mayora from third. The Lookouts knocked Suter out of the game following O'Koyea Dickson's base hit. Reliever Eric Marzec was greeted by Noel Cuevas' single to center. O'Brien was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Angel Sanchez delivered a pinch-hit single to center scoring Dickson with the third Lookouts run. With runners at the corners Darnell Sweeney fanned to end the threat.

When the Lookouts took the field to start the fifth, it was lefty Mike Thomas on the mound replacing Struck. Third baseman Daniel Mayora made a dazzling catch of a sharp line drive for the second out of the inning. 

The Lookouts took control of the game in their half of the fifth inning. Coyle, Jr. doubled to left and, after two men were out, Corey Seager was credited with a single on a short liner that fell off the glove of left fielder Hector Gimenez. After O'Brien walked, Kevin Shackelford was brought in to face Dickson. He was greeted by Dickson's line drive home run over the left field wall, making it 7-2.

Huntsville was not about to throw in the towel. RHP Jose Dominguez, who was added to the roster today, came on in relief in the seventh. He was not effective. After he yielded two singles and walk, he gave way to Ralston Cash who walked in a run. After coaxing a pop-fly out, Cash gave up a two-run double to Orlando Arcia to make it 7-5.

Manager Razor Shines went to the pen again and brought in lefty Daniel Coulombe to face veteran left hand hitting Nick Ramirez. Before going down swinging on a nasty slider, Ramirez hit a foul ball that nearly gave the Stars the lead. Gimenez flew out to center to end the threat. 

Manager Carlos Subero brought in lefty Jed Bradley to face a left handed hitting Scott Schebler. The strategy paid off when he struck out Schebler on three pitches.

Coulombe set the Stars down 1-2-3 in the eighth setting the stage for the dramatic finish in the ninth inning. The reported attendance for the game was 859 and the fans that remained until the final out of the game were standing and cheering for the Lookouts.

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The upcoming series will mark the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs since 2001 when Jacksonville took three-out-of-five games in the first round. Chattanooga will be looking to win their first Southern League title since 1988, when they swept Greenville.