Veteran Randy LeBlanc went 6.0 innings to collect his sixth win of the year.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Chattanooga Lookouts rolled to an 11-3 victory over the Tennessee Smokies. Chattanooga improves to 25-14 on the season and are in first place in the Southern League North Division leading Jackson by 3 1/2 games and Tennessee by 4 1/2 games.
Lookouts first baseman Brent Rooker paved the way for the win with a big night with the bat that included three hits and four RBIs.
Chattanooga had 11 hits in the contest.
It was a pitcher’s duel in this one for the game's first four innings, as Lookouts’ starter Randy LeBlanc’s zeroes on the scoreboard were matched by the Smokies’ Oscar De La Cruz. But the offense finally got to De La Cruz in the bottom of the fifth, knocking him out of the game as they took the lead and never looked back.
Brian Navarreto and LaMonte Wade drew walks to put the first ducks on the pond in the inning, while Rooker (RBI-single), Zander Wiel (two-RBI single), and Edgar Corcino (RBI double) knocked them in to go ahead 4-0.
LeBlanc surrendered a solo home run in the sixth that made it 4-1, but finished his outing with his fourth strikeout. He scattered seven hits and one walk in total over his six innings to pick up his sixth win. LeBlanc has now given up one run or fewer in four of his eight starts this season. His 2.14 ERA ranks third in the Southern League.
Chattanooga added a run in the sixth on a sac fly from Rooker, then blew open the game in the seventh with five more. Those five runs came on Chris Paul’s first home run of the season, a two-run shot, an RBI single from Wade, and another base knock from Rooker to score two more for a 10-1 lead.
Cody Stashak came on for the seventh and had a one-two-three inning, striking out two. He then got the first two outs of the eighth on strikeouts, but a couple of walks would end his appearance at 1 2/3 innings.
Casey Crosby relieved him, and a passed ball scored one before he got a ground out to end the frame. A wild-pitch would score another for the Smokies in the ninth, but Crosby would finish the game with a strikeout. In 1 1/3 innings, Crosby walked three and struck out two.
Tanner English (2-for-4) and Alex Perez (2-for-5) added multiple hits to lead the offense. Corcino and Navarreto each drove in two and as a team the Lookouts went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
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Wednesday at 11:15 a.m., the Lookouts will try and capture their fourth win of a series for a fourth time this season. RHP Anthony Marzi will look to get his first win as a Lookout against Michael Rucker.
Brent Rooker carried a hot bat going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI In Tuesday's win.
photo by Tim Evearitt