David Hurlbut brought his A-game to the ballpark Saturday against the Smokies.
photo by Tim Evearitt
SEVIERVILLE - The Smokies and Lookouts entered the ninth inning on Saturday night knotted at 0-0 and it was Chattanooga who was able to score the lone run of the contest in the top of the ninth on their way to a 1-0 win.
Chattanooga starting pitcher, lefty David Hurlbut threw eight innings of scoreless ball. Travis Harrison scored the only run of the game when he homered in the top of the ninth.
Hurlbut went a full eight innings for the Lookouts and threw just 97 pitches during his outing.
Trevor Hildenberger came on to close out the contest in the ninth and he was successful in doing so as he picked up his 13th save of the year.
Hurl but improved to 7-4 on the season while reliever Joe Nathan fell to 0-1 on the year for Tennessee.
Smokies starter RHP Brad Markey was impressive on the mound for Tennessee as he struck out three Lookouts and gave up just five hits. Nathan took over for Tennessee in the ninth and gave up a solo shot which stood as the game-winning run.
The Lookouts' offense was the first to cause trouble on Saturday night. In the second inning, Travis Harrison led off with a single then Niko Goodrum was hit by a pitch with only one retired. Harrison moved to third after a passed ball, but Markey was able to get out of the jam by striking out Stuart Turner and getting Levi Michael to ground out.
Leo Reginatto led off the fourth with a double for Chattanooga, but the Smokies were able to escape the inning unharmed as the next three Lookouts lined out.
The Smokies' offense put something together in the fifth, but were unable to break the 0-0 tie.
The Smokies then gave the mound to six-time MLB All-Star Nathan to start the ninth frame and on just his third pitch thrown, Harrison sent one out of the yard over the left field wall to break the tie and give Chattanooga a 1-0 lead.
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The Smokies and Lookouts will do it all again on Sunday night with the first pitch set for 5:05 p.m. Tyler Skulina (3-7, 4.93 ERA) will take the mound for Tennessee while LHP Tyler Jay (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his Double-A debut for Chattanooga.
Travis Harrison's solo home run in the ninth was the only run scored in the game.
photo by Tim Evearitt