Chris Okey watches as his first of three home runs sails over the left field wall at AT&T Park.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Chattanooga Lookouts catcher Chris Okey belted three home runs to lead the home team to a 8-6 come-from-behind win over the Birmingham Barons. AOkey matched last year's home run total and collected a career-high 7 RBIs.
"I did not expect this coming to the ballpark today, but I couldn't be happier leaving with the result," Okey said to MiLB.com.
"It's just one of those things where luckily enough my timing was perfect and it just happened that three balls went over the fence."
The 24-year-old catcher said nothing changed about his pregame routine, just the results.
"I just took it as another game and it was a really cool night," he said.
The Lookouts scratched the board first, going up 2-0 in the bottom of the second as Okey smacked his first homer on the day scoring Gavin LaValley.
The Barons struck right back for two in the third and three in the fourth cruising to a 6-2 cushion, as LHP Scott Moss tossed his shortest outing of the year on three innings, giving up three runs while striking out two.
Okey came back with a vengeance in the sixth crushing another two-run home run scoring LaValley again.
To top it off, Okey obliterated a three-run shot in the sixth to score LaValley and Mitch Nay to give the Lookouts the 7-6 lead.
The scoring didn't stop there as Ibandel Isabel jumped in on the home-run party by hitting his 10th of the year. He is now tied for the Southern League lead, giving Chattanooga insurance and the 8-6 win.
Okey had quite a day, as the last Lookouts player to have three homers in a game was Scott Schebler in 2014 against Jacksonville and the last Lookouts player to have seven plus RBIs in a game was Luis Nunez in 2012 against the Tennessee Smokies.
Lookouts game highlights (from redsminorleagues.com)
Jose Siri went 1-4 with a steal (11).
Ibandel Isabel went 1-4 with a solo home run (10).
Brantley Bell went 1-4.
Mitch Nay went 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
Gavin LaValley went 2-4 with 3 runs scored.
Chris Okey went 3-4 with 3 home runs (3) and 7 RBI.
Aaron Fossas threw 2.1 shutout innings with a walk and 3 strikeouts.
Joel Kuhnel threw 1.2 shutout innings.
Thursday, the two teams are at it again as RHP Tejay Antone faces off against RHP Jimmy Lambert on Thirsty Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
Taylor Trammell signs autographs for young fans before the start of the game.
photo by Tim Evearitt