Chattanooga Lookouts Move Into First Place With Sunday's 5-4 Win Over Montgomery

Everything Points To Five-Game Series At Tennessee Beginning Wednesday

  • Sunday, June 11, 2017
Nick Gordon slugged his sixth triple of the year and drove in two runs.
Nick Gordon slugged his sixth triple of the year and drove in two runs.
photo by Tim Evearitt

MONTGOMERY, Ala. --- Sunday's game in Montgomery turned from a sure-win situation to a nail biter after the Biscuits came within a run of tying the contest in the bottom of the ninth. Chattanooga held on for a 5-4 victory.

Meanwhile, Tennessee lost 9-4 at Jackson and the Lookouts moved into first-place with a one-half game lead over the Smokies with seven games remaining. The final five games of the first half will be played between Chattanooga and Tennessee at the Smokies Park.

Chattanooga jumped early on Montgomery's pitching staff.

Jonathan Rodriguez and Dan Gamache reached with a walk and a single to start the threat. With two outs, Jose Gonzalez walked to load the bases. A Ryan Walker single brought in the first two runs of the game. Nick Gordon finished the frame with a two-run triple to put Chattanooga up 4-0.

In the next inning, Rodriguez singled and scored two batters later on a TJ White single to extend the Lookouts' lead.

The Lookouts bullpen ran into trouble. Todd Van Steensel allowed a one-out double before a wild pitch moved the runner to third. A sacrifice fly scored Montgomery's first run of the game.

Recently returned Randy Rosario ran into some trouble himself. He gave up three singles and a walk but a key strikeout kept the bleeding to one run.

Jake Reed entered the ninth with a three-run lead and he needed every one of them. He walked two of the first four batters before a double cut the lead to 5-3. During the next at-bat, Reed uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the runner to scamper in from third.

After Andrew Velazquez hit an RBI double and Lee scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to cut the Chattanooga lead to 5-4. A line out to center ended the threat and the Lookouts came away with the big win. Reed collected his first save of the season.

The Lookouts were out hit in the game, 14-to-12. Several Biscuits chipped in at the plate, as five players had at least two hits. Lee singled three times, scoring two runs.

The Biscuits squandered several scoring chances, leaving 17 runners on base in the loss. The Lookouts stranded nine runners.

Raul Fernandez (2-1) got the win with two innings of scoreless, two-hit relief while Montgomery starter Mike Franco (5-1) took the loss in the Southern League game.

Box

The Lookouts will go for their third consecutive win at Montgomery Monday night in what must also be considered a crucial game for both teams.

Starting pitcher Randy LeBlanc threw four scoreless innings.
Starting pitcher Randy LeBlanc threw four scoreless innings.
photo by Tim Evearitt
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