Starting pitcher Jose Berrios left Sunday's game early after being hit by a line-drive off his leg.
photo by Tim Evearitt
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Chattanooga defeated the Barons Sunday, 4-3, in front of 4,739 at Regions Field. The Lookouts have won eight of their last nine games. Birmingham dropped their third consecutive game to Chattanooga.despite breaking their scoreless innings streak.
The Lookouts remain in first place in the Southern League North Division leading the Smokies by 4 1/2 games. With only six games remaining in the first half, the magic number is now three.
Inning-by-inning game recap
Birmingham's Frankie Montas, coming off a seven inning no-hitter in his last start, looked good early. He ran his no-hit streak to 11 2/3 innings, but his bid for a second straight no-hitter came to a screeching halt when Max Kepler hit a two-run homer to give the Lookouts their first hit and the early lead.
There was a scary moment for the Lookouts in the bottom of the third inning. Jose Berrios, top pitching prospect for the Twins, started for the Lookouts and had given up just one hit over three shutout innings. On the final out of that third inning, he took a liner to the shin. He made the play, but left the game with a leg contusion. Reports following the game indicated that he was fine and wouldn’t miss any time.
DJ Baxendale went to the mound and threw the next two innings. He gave up one run on one hit and two walks, though he did strike out five. Madison Boer gave up two unearned runs on two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out two. Jake Reed got the next four outs in order. JT Chargois recorded his third save since his call up to Chattanooga. He struck out two in an inning.
DJ Baxendale, who came off the disabled list recently, replaced Berrios.
Mike Gonzales went 2-for-4, but Kepler had the big hit. Kepler went 1-for-2 with two walks and a two-run homer. It was his third homer of the year. Jorge Polanco, batting lead-off in the absence of Buxton, went 0-for-1, but walked three times. Niko Goodrum made the start in center field for the Lookouts.
Mike Gonzales continues to hammer the ball for Chattanooga.
Birmingham's Danny Hayes had two hits in the game and combined with Rob Brantly to knock in runs in the sixth against winner Madison Boer to tie the game at 3-3.
The winning run came on a double play grounder that scored Gonzales, breaking a three-all tie in the seventh to give Chattanooga the lead, 4-3.
Tim Anderson singled and stole second in the ninth inning to put the tying run in scoring position for the Barons, but Chargois got Chris Marrero to fly out to center to end the game and earn his third save.
Tim Anderson is the top prospect of the Chicago White Sox.
The Barons and Lookouts close out the series and home stand Monday morning with a 12:30 a.m. first pitch. Tyler Barnette (2-2, 1.19 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Barons while the Lookouts will send Greg Peavey (4-2, 5.61 ERA) to the hill.
After Tuesday's off day, the Lookouts open their final first-half homestand Wednesday with a five-game set against the Jacksonville Suns.
Notes: Byron Buxton's first Major League game.
On Sunday, outfielder Byron Buxton went 0-for-4 in his Major League debut, but scored the winning run. In 59 games with the Lookouts the top prospect in baseball hit .283 with six home runs, 12 triples, 44 runs and 20 stolen bases. He also ended his time with the team on an eight-game hitting streak. During the streak the outfielder compiled 14 hits which is the second most in all of Double-A baseball during that time frame. Since the beginning of June, Buxton saw his average move from .262 up to .283.
Max Kepler hit a two-run homer.
photo by Tim Evearitt