Ryan Walker had a game tying two-run hit in the sixth inning.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Chattanooga Lookouts outfielder Brent Rooker smacked a walk-off RBI double to give the Lookouts the 3-2 win over the Birmingham Barons.
Rooker finished the night with two doubles, giving him a league leading 42 extra base hits. He also leads the league in total bases (159) and is tied for first in the league in doubles (24) and home runs (14).
Rooker also extended his home on-base streak to a minor-league high of 39 straight games.
Birmingham struck early against starting pitcher Lewis Thorpe, scoring a run in the first and one in the fourth. Those two runs were the only ones Thorpe would surrender as he finished the day pitching to 97 hitters in 4 2/3 innings and striking out eight batters. Over his last three home games the southpaw has struck out 27 combined batters.
After Thorpe left the game the bullpen continued their recent hot streak. Ryan Eades threw three scoreless innings and Tyler Jay chipped in 1 1/3 scoreless. The Lookouts bullpen has now combined to throw 15 2/3 straight scoreless innings.
Down by two runs the Lookouts offense found its footing in the sixth. Zander Wiel led off the inning with a single and Brian Navarreto doubled to put runners at second and third. The game became tied on Ryan Walker's two-run single. Navaretto now has 13 doubles tying his career high two-baggers.
The game remained tied until the ninth. One of the newest Lookouts, second baseman Luis Arraez, smacked a single for his first hit of the night with one out in the frame. Rooker then stepped to the plate and belted his double to give the Lookouts the victory.
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On Monday the team begins a four-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Lookouts starting pitcher Omar Bencomo is set to take the mound against his former team. Chattanooga returns home on Thursday, July 12. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Lookouts catcher Brian Navaretto had three hits in Sunday's game.
photo by Tim Evearitt