Byron Buxton hit his first home run of the season.
photo by Tim Evearitt
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Redemption is a wonderful thing. After blowing the save on Opening Night two evenings ago, Lookouts reliever Nick Burdi (0-1) finally shut the door on a Biscuits comeback that came up just short in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday night at Riverwalk Stadium.
The Lookouts starting pitchers continue to impress. Greg Peavey (1-0) was solid, tossing 6.1 innings with 6 strikeouts.
Speaking of strikeouts, the Biscuits have continued to fan in double-digits. After striking out 15 times in each of the first two games, Lookouts' hurlers fanned 12 in Saturday's win while Chattanooga batters struck out nine times.
Inning-by-inning recap
Burdi, an imposing 6-5, 215 lb. flamethrower, who allowed all four of Montgomery's runs in the bottom of the ninth in Thursday night's 4-3 loss, settled down some in the third game of the season surrendering a run, but ultimately coming away with his first save of the season while Montgomery left the potential winning run on base.
The Biscuits got off to a hot start on Saturday night in front of an excitable crowd of 6,927 with designated hitter Patrick Leonard and second baseman Leonardo Reginatto (making his first start of the season) contributing RBI singles in the first and second inning respectively. Montgomery held the 2-0 lead until the top of the fourth when Lookouts designated hitter Mike Gonzales blasted a two-run double to the tie the game.
The score remained deadlocked until the top of the 7th when Biscuits reliever Zach Cooper (0-1) gave up a pair of solo homers to Lookouts outfielders Adam Walker and Byron Buxton, which made it 4-2. Chattanooga didn't look back from there, despite a ninth inning RBI-single from Richie Shaffer, and a comeback that Burdi ultimately quelled.
Most Lookouts' hitters are getting off to a slow start in the early season. Top prospect Byron Buxton is batting .143 while Miguel Sano has a .200 average. Travis Harrison went 3-for-4 raising his average to .250 while Mike Gonzalez was 2-for-4 and is hitting .333. In 2014, Harrison recorded three or more hits in seven games including a five-hit (career-high) effort on 4/14/2014.
Sano stole his first base of the season. The third baseman had two steals in 67 games at Double-A in 2013 and zero in his first 49 games at that level. However, Sano did steal a career-high nine bases in 56 games with the Miracle that same season.
The Lookouts will aim for their first series win when DJ Baxendale (0-0) take the mound on Sunday afternoon at 3:05 p,m.
Milb story on Byron Buxton's game Saturday. http://tinyurl.com/kchuxfg
DJ Baxendale starts Sunday's game.
photo by Tim Evearitt