Jorge Polanco drove in the Lookouts only runs of the game.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Chattanooga Lookouts (29-18) starting pitcher Greg Peavey pitched well, but the Biloxi Shuckers (29-19) broke a two-run tie in the eighth inning to prevail over the Lookouts in front of 5,289 fans on Military Appreciation Night at AT&T Field.
A night after falling 3-2 to the Lookouts, the Shuckers turned the tables and defeated the Lookouts 3-2. Nathan Orf drove in two runs and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth to lead Biloxi to their 29th win of the season, matching them with Chattanooga for the most in the Southern League.
Brent Suter, the 25-year-old lefty out of Harvard worked 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while walking five and striking out four. Relievers blanked the Lookouts over the final 4 2/3 innings.
Biloxi's Brent Suter
The Shuckers scored first for the first time in the series in the top of the second as Orf brought home Michael Reed and Brandon Macias who had each walked, giving Biloxi an early 2-0 advantage.
The Lookouts tied the game at two in the fifth. With Carlos Paulino on second base and Byron Buxton on first base, Jorge Polanco hit a long single. Paulino scored, but the throw from the outfield got away from the catcher and Buxton scored all the way from first base.
That’s where the game remained until the top of the eighth. Tim Shibuya came out for his second inning after a scoreless seventh frame. He gave up a run on three hits.
The Lookouts tried to come back in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Buxton walked and then stole second on the first pitch. However, Polanco grounded out to end the game.
The Lookouts had just five hits in the game. Stephen Wickens went 2-4. Buxton had a walk and a single. The stolen base was his 14th of the year. He also was credited with two outfield assists.
Chattanooga stranded nine on-base Friday.
Miguel Sano was out of the lineup for the second straight games. Before the Twins game on Friday night, GM Terry Ryan reported that Sano had a jammed finger.
Chattanooga, the top team in the Southern League’s North Division leads second-place Tennessee by 3 1/2 games.
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On Saturday night, in game four of the series at AT&T Field. RHP Hiram Burgos (1-0, 3.97) starts for the Shuckers and RHP D.J. Baxendale (3-0, 2.47) toes the rubber for the Lookouts.
Travis Harrison with a running catch in right field.
photo by Tim Evearitt