Levi Michael homered for Chattanooga.
photo by Tim Evearitt
BILOXI, MS - For the first time since May 9, the Shuckers lost an extra-inning contest, snapping a streak of eight consecutive victories in such games after a 6-5 loss in 11 innings to the Chattanooga Lookouts on Wednesday night at MGM Park.
The Shuckers dropped the opener of the five-game series despite a season-high three home runs and tallying 15 hits.
Inning-by-inning game Recap
The Lookouts gave runs early, but came back in a back-and-forth game that ended after 11 innings.
Alex Wimmers allowed three first-inning runs (on two home runs), but that was it over his five innings. He allowed eight hits and a walk. He struck out two. After D.J. Johnson pitched a scoreless sixth, Brandon Peterson allowed two runs in two innings of work. Jake Reed followed with two innings of scoreless ball to earn the win. J.T. Chargois closed it out for the save in the 11th inning.
The Lookouts scored three runs in the third inning. It started with a throwing error that allowed Levi Michael to reach base. He advanced on a Shannon Wilkerson single and scored on a Stephen Wickens double. After Travis Harrison walked, Kennys Vargas came to the plate with the bases loaded. An error by the third baseman allowed Wilkerson to score. Marcus Knecht had a two-out single that scored Wickens, but Harrison was thrown out at home to the end the inning.
Vargas was replaced by Niko Goodrum in the fifth inning after grounding into a double play.
Chattanooga added another run in the seventh on a solo home run by Levi Michael.
Their fifth run came in the eighth inning when Niko Goodrum singled, stole second then stole third and then scored on a sac fly.
There was a scary moment in the 10th inning when a power surge knocked out a bank of lights, caused the radio broadcast to go out for a few innings and the entire stadium to flicker. The umpires and managers decided to play on.
In the 11th, Goodrum again reached base on a walk and advanced on a Walker fly ball. This time, though, he was be thrown out at 3rd base when Knecht hit it to the shortstop. Knecht advanced to third on a Stuart Turner single and scored the eventual winning run on a passed ball.
Chattanooga, which has already qualified for the playoffs, is currently in last place in the Southern League North and is 5-13 after Wednesday night’s win.
Box
Rehabbing Major League RHP Wily Peralta (0-0, --) will take the mound for his second rehab while Chattanooga will send out LHP Brett Lee (0-3, 4.67).
Notes:
The Lookouts released both 1B Mike Gonzales and RP Scott Atchison. While Atchison didn’t have an opt-out in his contract, he didn’t expect to still be in the minors, so he asked for and was granted his release.