Alex Wimmers
photo by StarTribune
PEARL, MS -- Lookouts' Southern League Pitcher of the Month Tyler Duffey understands how it feels to pitch shutout baseball but end up with a no-record game. Duffey has had it happen twice. Monday, in his first start of the season, Alex Wimmers worked five shutout innings allowing just one hit while fanning three. But the Mississippi Braves scored four runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to walk-off with a 6-5 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts at Trustmark Park.
Inning-by-inning recap.
Mississippi (6-4) scored six runs on six hits while Chattanooga (6-4) plated five runs on seven hits. The M-Braves trailed 5-0 until the eighth inning.
Lookouts pitchers saw a string of 18 scoreless innings end when D. J. Johnson was rocked for four earned runs in the eighth.
Jake Reed (0-1) blew the save and took the loss for Chattanooga, giving up two earned runs on two hits without recording an out.
In the eighth inning, Corban Joseph led off with a walk, and Steve Rodriguez singled to put runners at the corners. Emerson Landoni was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Mallex Smith followed with a two-run double to right field, cutting the Lookouts lead to 5-2. A ground out from Daniel Castro added another run before Rio Ruiz's sacrifice fly to center field made it a one-run game.
The Braves then added two in the ninth to steal a victory from Chattanooga.
Seth Loman led off the ninth with a single to center. Matt Lipka then entered the game as a pinch runner before David Rohm delivered a game-tying triple to right field. Corban Joseph was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners with no outs before Steve Rodriguez ended the game with a game-winning squeeze to secure the walkoff victory.
The Lookouts jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third. Stu Turner singled and stole second. Jason Hursh then walked four straight batters with two out, allowing Chattanooga to take a 2-0 lead. Travis Harrison then followed with a two-run single to left field.
Jorge Polanco led off the top of the fifth with a solo homer to right field, his second long ball of the season, to put the Lookouts out front 5-0.
Jason Hursh tossed 4.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits, a home run and four walks. He struck out two batters. Ryan Weber, Mark Lamm and Justin Jackson (1-0) worked 4.2 scoreless inning of one-hit baseball. Jackson picked up the victory.
Credit should be given to Lookouts' reliever Cole Johnson who threw two shutout innings in relief of Wimmers.
Box
In game two of this five-game series, M-Braves right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (0-1, 2.35). Duffey (0-0, 0.00) will make his third start for Chattanooga. First pitch is slated for 8:00 p.m.. ET
Jorge Polanco hit a solo homer in the fifth inning.
photo by Tim Evearitt