Wild Pitch Gives Lookouts 3-2 Win Over Biscuits Friday

Saturday Night Is Jackie Mitchell Bobblehead Night

  • Saturday, May 27, 2017
Stephen Gonsalves demonstrated why he is the top pitching prospect of the Twins.
Stephen Gonsalves demonstrated why he is the top pitching prospect of the Twins.
photo by Tim Evearitt

On Friday night before a season-high crowd of 5,504 at AT&T Field, the Chattanooga Lookouts hosted the Montgomery Biscuits in game three of a five game home series. The Lookouts (27-21) defeated the Biscuits (25-23) for the third consecutive night in a row, by a score of 3-2.

Minnesota Twins #2 overall prospect, Stephen Gonsalves (0-1, 3.27), made his first home start of the 2017 season after joining the Lookouts last week in Biloxi, MS.

Gonsalves showed why he is a top prospect in the Twins organization as he got in a groove early and perplexed the Biscuits batters for the majority of the night.

For Gonsalves, his outing on Friday night was the quality start that the Lookouts needed. In 7.0 innings pitched, he allowed just 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, issued no walks and struck out 7.

Chattanooga got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when T.J White ripped a line drive single to right field, scoring Ryan Strausborger.

The Biscuits responded immediately in the top of the third inning when they managed to pull off the rare double steal which allowed Nick Ciuffo to score from third base to even the score at one.

The Lookouts would regain their lead in the bottom of the third inning when LaMonte Wade produced a sacrifice fly to plate Nick Gordon. The Lookouts held on to their 2-1 lead until the top of the seventh inning when the Biscuits finally managed to touch Gonsalves.

Biscuits third baseman Grant Kay singled home Cade Gotta on a line drive to left fielder Wade.  After Gotta scored, Wade showed his arm strength by throwing a one hop laser to nail Granden Goetzman at the plate, preventing Montgomery from taking the lead.

In the top of the eighth inning, Gonsalves exited the game and gave way to relief pitcher, Todd Van Steensel. Van Steensel pitched well in his first outing since returning to the active roster after being on the disabled list since May 17th due to a groin injury. He did what you would want any middle reliever to do, eat up innings and put zeros on the board as he tossed 1.0 hitless innings. Van Steensel (4-1, 2.20) was also credited with his fourth win of the 2017 season.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Friday night fireworks started a bit early for the Lookouts. After Biscuits pitcher Ian Gibaut struck out Strausborger, Gordon scored from third base on a wild pitch to give the Lookouts a 3-2 lead and eventually the win..

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Lookouts would make their final call to the bullpen as Mason Melotakis (2-1, 2.37) was called upon to close the game. Melotakis set the Biscuits down in order. Melotakis also collected his fourth save of the season in the process making him second on the team in saves for the 2017 season, only behind John Curtiss who currently leads the team with nine saves.

 Box

Game four of the series between the Lookouts and the Biscuits is set for Saturday, May 27th at 7:15 PM at AT&T Field. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. for Jackie Mitchell Bobblehead Night (first 1,000) presented by Great Clips.  

 -- So far in 2017, the Lookouts are a perfect 19-0 when leading after the seventh inning, and 22-0 when leading after the eighth inning, both at home and on the road.

-- After Friday night’s win, the Chattanooga Lookouts now have the second most home wins in all of Minor League Baseball in 2017 with 19 wins. The Lookouts are second to only the West Michigan WhiteCaps (Detroit Tigers Single-A Affiliate) who have 20 home wins in 2017.

Levi Michael tags out Michael Russell who was caught stealing.
Levi Michael tags out Michael Russell who was caught stealing.
photo by Tim Evearitt
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