Kohl Stewart (4-4) went five innings giving up three hits but zero earned runs.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Jackson, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals dropped game one of a five-game series to the Chattanooga Lookouts 7-3 on Wednesday night at The Ballpark at Jackson. The Generals drop to 7-3 in series openers this season and have lost five of their last six, the first time they've done that in 2016. For Chattanooga it was just their second road win against the Generals this season.
The Lookouts remain in first place in the North Division with a one game lead over second place Montgomery.
Kohl Stewart started for Chattanooga giving up three hits and four walks in five innings but leaving the bases loaded stranded twice but allowing just one unearned run.
Raul Fernandez, Jake Reed and Mason Melotakis combined for four innings with Melotakis and Fernandez allowing a run.
Chattanooga got on the board first in the top of the first. Zach Granite led off with a walk and advanced to third on Mitch Garver's double. Leonardo Reginatto brought in Granite with a groundout to second to give the Lookouts a 1-0 lead.
The Generals responded in the bottom of the first. Ian Miller singled to center and moved to second on an error by second baseman Engelb Vielma. Miller moved to third on a flyout before Ryan Casteel singled Miller in to tie the game up at 1-1.
The Lookouts took the lead back in the fourth and never looked back.
D.J. Hicks led off with a double to left center and quickly moved to third on a groundout. With two outs and Hicks on third, Vielma singled up the middle to give 'Nooga a 2-1 lead. The rally didn't stop there as Edgar Corcino singled, Granite walked, and Ryan Walker knocked in two with a single of his own. Halfway through the fourth, Chattanooga led 4-1.
The Lookouts added another run in the fifth on three straight two-out singles to go up 5-1 before Jackson answered in the sixth. With one out, Kyle Petty singled to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a single. Petty later scored on Miller's sacrifice fly to center and the Generals trailed 5-2 after six.
The final run for the Lookouts came across in the seventh to make it 6-2.
With one out in the ninth, the Generals had gone 20.1 consecutive innings without an extra-base hit Gonzalez ended that streak with a solo blast to left to make it 7-3.
The Generals had their fair share of opportunities, but struggled in those situations. Despite recording seven hits, six of which were singles, Jackson stranded the bases loaded twice and left 10 men on base overall while going a combined 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Trevor Hildenberger picked up his 16th save of the season Monday with a perfect 1-2-3 inning. He has blown just one all year. Even more impressive, Hildenberger has allowed just three runs in 34 innings pitched for an eye-popping 0.79 ERA.
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The teams meet for the second game of the series Thursday night at 8:05 p.m. Lookouts David Hurlbut (L, 7-4, 3.26) will face the Generals Tyler Herb (R, 0-2, 5.40).
This game along with each Lookouts' game, home or away, can be heard at –96.1 FM The Legend, or at WWW.LOOKOUTS.COM.