David Hurlbut threw seven shutout innings Saturday.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Lookouts lefty David Hurlbut fired seven solid innings to extend his scoreless streak to over 25 innings, while the Smokies mounted a late ninth-inning comeback effort that came up just one run short as Chattanooga held on for a 4-3 victory over Tennessee in front of 6,722 fans on Saturday night at Smokies Stadium.
The win ups the Lookouts' second half tally to 10-17, as well as a 53-52 overall record this year.
Before the final inning drama, Hurlbut dazzled in his seven strong frames, earning his fourth consecutive victory, and seventh win of the year overall, thanks to his seven shutout frames, adding five strikeouts. Since allowing a single run in the first inning on July 8 at Jacksonville, the southpaw has been lights out for the Lookouts, combining for 25 scoreless innings in that time period.
Entering the bottom of the ninth down four, the Smokies offense came alive with a late charge scoring three runs off reliever Alex Muren.
With one out and the bases loaded, including the tying run at third and winning run in scoring position, pinch hitter Bijan Rademacher lifted a flare out toward short left field. Lookouts third baseman Aderlin Mejia, however, was able to scamper back and make a reaching grab to rob Tennessee of a possible walk-off win, while the next batter was sent down on a force out to end the game and give Chattanooga the win.
After being retired in order in the first, the Smokies did put a baserunner on every inning after through the seventh, yet each time the Hurlbut was up to the task and prevented Tennessee from scoring.
The largest threat against the lefty came in the sixth, when Tennessee got the first two runners on base and then moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, but Hurlbut was able to weave out of trouble, fanning the next batter before inducing a flyout to end the threat.
For the first time in the series, Chattanooga struck first, doing so in the third. Niko Goodrum led off the inning with a base knock to right, then moved from first to third on Meijia's single to right, before coming across on a double play to put the Lookouts ahead 1-0.
That margin would double to two three innings later in the sixth via another groundball out. Max Kepler led off the frame with a triple to right, and scored via an RBI groundout off the bat of Kennys Vargas to push the advantage to 2-0.
Max Kepler collected his ninth triple of the season.
Chattanooga's lead would grow to three, then four, with single tallies in the eighth and ninth frames.
Adam Brett Walker began with a double to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before being scoring thanks to Stuart Turner's RBI base hit to center to make it 3-0.
Vargas would later leave the yard with a solo smash in the very next inning, his fourth with Chattanooga, to cap the scoring for the Lookouts and give the club what turned out to be a very crucial run.
Vargas was one of two Chattanooga batters to record a multi-hit effort, along with Mejia (2-for-4).
Smokies starter Andres Santiago suffered the loss despite a quality start, yielding just two earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Chattnooga relieverJ.T. Chargois fired a perfect eighth to notch his second hold.
Box
The teams finish their three-game series on Sunday afternoon against, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The Smokies give the nod to RHP Felix Pena (5-6, 4.17) in the series finale, while Chttanooga is expected to send RHP Alex Wimmers (5-3, 5.28) to the mound.
Kennys Vargas ninth inning homer was the difference in the outcome.
photo by Tim Evearitt