Sunday was on Hispanic Heritage Day at AT&T Field with players wearing colorful uniforms.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Another beautiful day brought out over 4,300 fans to AT&T Field where the Tennessee Smokies and Chattanooga Lookouts played two seven inning games.The Smokies swept the doubleheader and clinched the series against the Lookouts, winning 3-2 in game one and 3-2 in game two. In each game, Chattanooga had the lead, but could not hold it.
Sunday's results moved the Smokies (12-11) into second place, just a half game ahead of the Lookouts (12-12).
The Smokies jumped out to an early lead in game one when Trent Giambrone hit a solo home run to left field to make it 1-0.
It was the first home run of the season for Giambrone.
Chattanooga responded with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and an RBI-double in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Tennessee tied the game at 2-2 on a Yasiel Balaguert solo home run in the fourth inning, which was also the first home run of the year for Balaguert. Jeffrey Baez scored Jesse Hodges on a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning to provide the eventual winning run for the Smokies and make it a 3-2 game. Zack Littell (0-3) was the losing pitcher for Chattanooga.
Thomas Hatch improved to 3-0 on the season as the Smokies starter with another solid outing on the mound. Hatch pitched 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk. Jake Stinnett relieved Hatch and threw a scoreless sixth inning. Dakota Mekkes earned the save with perfect seventh inning, not allowing a base runner while striking out one.
Chris Paul and Brent Rooker both went 2-for-3. Paul’s leadoff single in the second allowed him to come around and score the game’s first run. In the third inning, Paul plated a run with his sixth double. Overall, the team went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
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In game two the Lookouts jumped on the scoreboard early. In the first inning, Brent Rooker launched a single and then scored on a Zander Wiel fielder's choice.
In the third they added one more run, this time on a Rooker RBI double. Rooker finished the day 2-for-3 with a RBI and is hitting .333 (6-for-18) over his last five games.
Omar Bencomo, in his first start of the season, tossed four scoreless frames with three strikeouts and no walks. His season ERA dropped to 1.56.
Trailing by two runs the Smokies tagged reliever Sam Clay for three runs to take the lead. Trey Martin got the Smokies on the scoreboard when he singled home Eddy Martinez, making it 2-1. Ian Rice tied the game 2-2 when he scored on a wild pitch later in the inning. The Smokies took the lead when Baez doubled and Martin scored to make it 3-2, which was the final score.
Oscar De La Cruz pitched a complete-game on the mound for Tennessee. De La Cruz threw 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He added five strikeouts and did not walk any batters.
Hits were few and far between for the Lookouts. Only the top three batters in the lineup recorded hits. For the second straight game, Rooker added a double (4) and an RBI. It was Rooker’s fifth multi-hit effort during the 2018 campaign.
Nick Gordon went 1-for-2 and LaMonte Wade finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Wiel had an outfield assist in the game as he threw out a runner at home from left field.
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The Smokies and Lookouts will play game 5 of the series tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. Tennessee's starting pitcher is expected to be Michael Rucker (1-2, 6.14 ERA), while Chattanooga will send Randy LeBlanc (3-1, 1.99 ERA) to the mound.
Smokies manager congratulates Trent Giambrone on his home run.
photo by Tim Evearitt