Jon Rodriquez hit his third home run in three games in the Mississippi series.
photo by Tim Evearitt
PEARL, Miss. -- Jonathan Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, leading the Chattanooga Lookouts to a 5-3 win over the Mississippi Braves on Friday.
The Lookouts, winners of the North Division first-half, are 7-1 in the second-half. Chattanooga leads second-place Tennessee by two games.
Chattanooga right-hander Dereck Rodriguez (2-0) picked up a quality start and the win after allowing three runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Paul Clemens struck Connor Lien out with runners on first and third to end the game. Clemens gave up two hits and a walk over 2 1/3 shutout innings.
He struck out two and recorded his first save of the season.
The home run by Jon Rodriguez scored LaMonte Wade to give the Lookouts a 2-1 lead.
The Lookouts later added a run in the fifth and two in the seventh. In the fifth, Wade hit an RBI single, while Wade hit an RBI single in the seventh.
Mississippi saw its comeback attempt come up short after Lien hit a two-run single in the seventh inning to cut the Chattanooga lead to 5-3.
Opposing starter Mike Soroka (9-4) took the loss in the Southern League game after allowing five runs and 10 hits over six innings.
The Lookouts had 10 hits in the game, including:
- Rodriguez went 1-3 with two walks and his ninth home run. It was his third home run in three games.
- LaMonte Wade went 2-4 with a walk and two runs driven in.
- Nick Gordon went 2-4, and he stole his eighth base. Edgar Corcino was 2-5.
Ronald Acuna homered and singled for the Braves.
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Fernando Romero will be on the hill Saturday for the Lookouts who go for their fourth straight win over the M-Braves.
Read article on return off Kohl Stewart from the DL . http://tinyurl.com/y8sabfwn
Read "Southern Notes" and article on Lookouts' pitcher, Felix Jorge. http://tinyurl.com/ybfcegsv
LaMonte Wade had two hits and two RBI for Chattanooga.
photo by Tim Evearitt