Zach Granite went 3-for-4 and continues to lead the Southern League in hitting at .303.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Lookouts were in control of Sunday afternoon's game up until the eighth and ninth inning when the M-Braves scored three runs to beat Chattanooga, 5-4.
Chattanooga's offense jumped out to an early lead after being sparked by leadoff hitter Zach Granite.
Granite started the home half of the first with a base hit to right field, danced on and off of first base to draw four pickoff attempts and a pitch-out from Braves starter Sean Newcomb, and then stole second base anyway with his 51st swiped bag of the season. Granite would cross the plate on a Ryan Walker base hit and Walker would score two at bats later on a Stuart Turner single to make it 2-0 Lookouts at the end of the first.
The Lookouts added another pair of runs to the board in the fourth with a two RBI double by Edgar Corcino, the 12th and 13th runs driven in by the outfielder in his last seven games, giving starter Aaron Slegers a four run lead to work with on the mound.
Slegers took full advantage of the lead with seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out six batters as well. The righty left the game in line for his tenth win, but the opportunity slipped away when Mississippi got to bullpen arm Zack Jones in the final two frames.
Jones allowed his first run in the eighth on a Carlos Franco sac fly and remained in the game for the ninth inning as well. All looked to be well for Chattanooga when Jones struck out the first two batters he faced, but the weather and the Braves had other plans.
Two outs into the inning a hard rain fell on AT&T Field and continued through the rest of the ninth and clearly effected Jones on the mound as the reliever gave up a double to Johan Camargo and walked Stephen Gaylor in the wet conditions.
With the rain still coming down strong, Ozzie Albies laced a line drive to deeper centerfield that one hopped the wall, drove in both runs, and landed Albies on third with a triple, giving Mississippi all they would need to win the game.
Chattanooga went quietly in the ninth and fell to 70-62 on the season while the Braves bumped up to 68-62.
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The two squads will square off again Monay night at 7:15 with LHP Michael Mader throwing for Mississippi. The Lookouts starter has yet to be determined after Kohl Stewart was placed on the disabled list.
Message from Lookouts' Management: Support the team
The Chattanooga Lookouts are in a race for the playoffs with only three regular season home games remaining. Last season your support helped lead the Lookouts to the 2015 Southern League Crown and now the team needs your help to clinch a shot at defending their title!
With eight total games to go your Lookouts are looking to head to the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Lookouts can clinch a playoff berth by either winning the second half outright or by finishing with the second best overall record in the North Division!
With a mark of 70-62 the Lookouts currently lead the Montgomery Biscuits by half a game for the second best-over-all record in the division. The first half champion Jackson Generals currently sit in first place with a second half record of 36-24, three games ahead of the Lookouts, and an overall record of 82-48.
“The energy our fans bring to the ballpark on a nightly basis is such an important part of Lookouts baseball,” said Lookouts president Rich Mozingo. “With the Lookouts in the playoff hunt we need you to once again come out and cheer on your hometown team.”
Join the Lookouts Monday as they continue to race for the playoffs with Kids Eat FreeMonday at 7:15 p.m. Children 12 and under will receive a free hot dog and a coke.
The next day is Food City Tuesday where fans who show their Food City ValuCard at the ticket office will receive Buy One Get One Free General Admission tickets to Tuesday’s game.
On Wednesday at 2:15 the Lookouts will play their final regular season home game. Fans with unused tickets from any 2016 Lookouts home game can exchange their ticket for a general admission ticket to Wednesday’s regular season home finale.