Southern League All-Star Daniel Palka smacked his 15th home run of the year.
photo by Tim Evearitt
SEVIERVILLE - The Smokies were able to jump ahead to a 1-0 lead in the first inning but the Lookouts took the lead in the fifth frame and never looked back as they topped the Smokies 6-2 on Friday night. Tennessee was able to out hit the Lookouts 8-6 on the night in the losing affair.
With the loss the Smokies now sit at 26-35 on the year while the Lookouts improved to 31-30 on the season.
It did not take long for the Smokies to grab a lead in front of the 6,913 fans at Smokies Stadium as they jumped ahead, 1-0, in the first frame.
After RHP Brad Markey was able to retire the Lookouts in order in the second and third innings, RF Daniel Palka sent a solo shot over the left field wall for his 15th of the year and eighth in 10 games.
The Lookouts matched their one-run fourth inning in the fifth frame as they jumped ahead of the Smokies. After SS Engelb Vielma reached on a throwing error by Markey, the five-foot-eleven Venezuelan stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Ben Carhart attempting to catch him at second. Zach Granite drove home Vielma with a double down the right field line giving the Lookouts a 2-1 lead.
Smokies' Stephen Perakslis came on in relief to begin the seventh but immediately found himself in trouble giving up a lead off double to DH Stuart Turner. Vielma advanced him to third on a sacrifice bunt before Granite drove him home with a soft groundout to second handing Chattanooga a two-run cushion.
The eighth inning wasn't kind to Perakslis either. Palka led off the frame by sending a soft line drive under the glove of a diving left fielder Trey Martin and moving all the way to third for a triple. Travis Harrison then drew a walk prior to Mitch Garver sneaking a fly ball over the left field wall to put the Lookouts ahead 6-1.
Manager Doug Mientkiewicz turned to Raul Fernandez in the bottom of the ninth frame. The Smokies were able to jump on the Dominican Republic native for a run.
The Smokies and Lookouts will do battle again Saturday night with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. from Smokies Stadium.
RHP Duane Underwood, Jr. will take the mound for Tennessee. Underwood, Jr. is the Cubs' top pitching prospect according to Baseball America. The Lookouts will give the ball to RHP Ryan Eades.
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