TJ White drove in the first runs for the Lookouts with a triple.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Chattanooga Lookouts (20-26) clubbed three triples in their 6-2 win over the Tennessee Smokies (21-25) Wednesday at AT&T Field. Lookouts' starter RHP D.J. Baxendale limited the Tennessee offense to just two runs.
Tennessee jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second thanks to a Jeimer Candelario double and a sacrifice fly by catcher Victor Caratini, but the advantage was short lived.
Chattanooga's offense erupted in the third inning and never looked back.
Leo Reginatto kick started the rally with a single to center and an error by the Smokies allowed the Lookouts to avoid a rally-killing double play. The next hitter, T.J. White
, made Tennessee pay by lacing a line shot into right-center field. Both runners came across the plate on White's three-bagger to put Chattanooga ahead, 2-1.
The triple parade did not end there. Leadoff man, Zack Granite, followed with a screaming grounder down the first base line. White scored easily from third, while the former Seton Hall Pirate chugged his way third with a run-scoring triple of his own to stretch the Lookouts edge to 3-1.
In the sixth, Chattanooga added a couple of key insurance runs. With one out, Ryan Walker singled and moved to third on a stolen base and an errant pickoff throw. D.J. Hicks made sure the error stung, as he drove home the runner with an RBI single to right, stretching the Lookouts lead to 4-1.
After a ground out moved Hicks to second, Chattanooga put another ball in the gap. This time it was Daniel Palka who came through as he smoked a ball into left. Hicks scored, as the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket motored into third with the Lookouts' third run-scoring triple of the night, putting the squad up, 5-1.
Chattanooga added their final tally in the eighth on a RBI single to left by Walker.
The five-run lead was all Baxendale would need to clinch his fourth win of the year. The righty allowed his second run of the game in the seventh, but brought his ERA down to 3.06.
Melotakis relieved Baxendale in the seventh and Hildenberger pitched the eighth and the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
Thursday, game two of the series takes place. The pitching matchup for the 7:15 game features LHP Nick Greenwood against RHP Duane Underwood.
Box
DJ Baxendale picked up his fourth win of the season.
photo by Tim Evearitt