David Hurlbut threw nine innings of shutout ball Monday night.
photo by Tim Evearitt
For the second straight game, the starting pitchers for the Chattanooga Lookouts and Biloxi Shuckers were locked in a pitcher's duel. After winning Sunday, 2-1, the Lookouts went 10 innings to beat the Shuckers again, 1-0.
In the bottom of the 10th inning Daniel Palka smacked a single to third base to bring home the winning run. The walk-off victory was the team's season-high fourth win in a row.
Palka might have knocked in the winning run for the Lookouts, but the win would not have been possible without starting pitcher David Hurlbut. Hurlbut was sensational through nine innings, only allowing two hits while striking out seven batters. He threw 94 pitches -- 68 strikes.
Monday's outing was the lefty's longest outing since May 8, 2014 when Hurlbut threw a complete game against the Jupiter Hammerheads while a member of the Fort Myers Miracle. Tonight's game was also the longest outing of the season for any Lookouts pitcher.
Biloxi's pitching staff had an almost equally great night. Shuckers starter Josh Hader continued his season-long dominance, as the southpaw allowed just one hit through the first four innings, which included a stretch of retiring ten consecutive Lookouts to go along with six strikeouts.
The Maryland native faced the minimum through the first 4 2/3 innings before Joe Maloney doubled to left and T.J. White struck out to end the frame.
Chattanooga (18-20) threatened against Biloxi’s (22-15) ace in the sixth with Stuart Turner and Levi Michael reaching safely to start the inning. Shannon Wilkerson dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, but a ground out by Leo Reginatto and a Palka strikeout maneuvered Hader out of the inning.
The 22-year-old and No. 4 prospect for Milwaukee (MLB.com) finished the night with six innings pitched, and gave up four hits, walked a batter, and tied a season-high with eight strikeouts. The left-hander needed 86 pitches – 55 strikes – to work through his eighth start of the season, and lowered his ERA to 0.89.
Tristen Archer and Steve Peterson came in after Hader and also held the Lookouts offense in check. The lone run of the day was given up by Jed Bradley who gave up Palka's walk-off single in the 10th.
Jake Reed (3-1), who pitched the 10th inning, got the win for Chattanooga.
Chattanooga looks to extend their win streak to five games Tuesday when they send Aaron Slegers to the mound against Brooks Hall. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.
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