Jon Rodriquez was the hero of Game Five with his two-run homer.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Chattanooga Lookouts first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez hit a game-winning two-run homer lin the botttom of the ninth inning to defeat the Montgomery Biscuits, 3-2, and to capture the Southern League Championship. The team's Championship is their second in two years. After the decision was made to cancel the Southern League Championship series due to Hurricane Irma, the Lookouts will now share the Southern League Championship with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos who won the Southern Division.
In the bottom of the ninth, LaMonte Wade led off the inning with an infield single.
Jon Rodriguez, who led the Southern League in several offensive categories for most of the season, then stepped to the plate. He provided one of the most memorable moments in the Lookouts long history.
Rodriguez cranked a Ian Gibaut fastball off the scoreboard in left field to give the Lookouts a 3 - victory and a share of the Southern League Championship.
After finishing the regular season with a record of 91-49, the Lookouts got off to a shaky start in game five of the Southern League Division Series. Starting pitcher Dietrich Enns allowed a solo home run to lead off the game and Chattanooga was down 1-0.
The lead wouldn't last long as Andy Wilkins smashed a game tying home run to lead off the second.
Enns ran into some more trouble in the fourth. With two outs in the frame, he allowed three consecutive hits before Nick Gordon gunned down Montgomery's Michael Russell at the plate.
Biscuits leadoff hitter Joe McCarthy started the game off with a solo homer to give the visitors the early lead.
Andy Wilkins repaid the favor in the second inning with a solo shot of his own to tie the game 1-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Montgomery took a 2-1 lead when Nick Ciuffo ripped a line drive RBI single to left field, allowing Dalton Kelly to score.
The Lookouts bullpen was outstanding in relief. Randy LeBlanc, Todd Van Steensel, and Anthony McIver combined for five shutout frames to keep Chattanooga in the game.
McIver didn't allow a base runner in the final two innings while striking out one.
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For Chattanooga manager, Jake Mauer, who was recently named the Southern League Manager of the Year, Sunday's game was special as it was the first time in his managerial career that he has been crowned a champion.
Read the article on Minor League Baseball's website at http://tinyurl.com/y7ryjzu9
Trailing 1-0, a solo home run by Andy Wilkins tied the game.
photo by Tim Evearitt