The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defeated the Chattanooga Lookouts by a 10-5 score in the fourth game of the four-game series at AT&T Field on Sunday afternoon.
Chattanooga's won-loss record for the second half stands at 8-21.
The loss was the 14th straight for the stumbling Lookouts who are now just one loss away from tying the Southern League's longest losing streak record that has stood for 48 years. It was in 1971 that Columbus (GA) lost 15 straight games.
The win completed a four-game sweep for the Jumbo Shrimp at AT&T Field. Jacksonville averaged over nine runs per game in the series while the Lookouts averaged a little over four runs per game
Jacksonville's starter, LHP Daniel Castano (3-1) earned the victory, working six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
LHP McKenzie Mills, the Jumbo Shrimp's reliever worked the final three innings for his second save of the year.
Chattanooga's left-handed starting pitcher Reiver Sanmartin (0-4) continues to look for his first Double-A victory, working 4 2/3 innings. Sanmartin allowed eight runs (all earned) on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Jacksonville struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Bryson Brigman brought in the first run with an RBI double. Brigman scored from third base when Joe Dunand reached on a fielding error by Chattanooga third baseman Gavin LaValley to make it 2-0.
Chattanooga answered with a run in the bottom of the first, as Taylor Trammell tripled and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Nay to make it 2-1. Trammell went 3-for-4 and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
An inning later Chattanooga tied the game at 2-2 on an RBI single by Alfredo Rodriguez.
The Jumbo Shrimp used the long ball to get back in front in the third inning. Corey Bird slugged a two-run homer to right field to give Jacksonville a 4-2 lead.
Two innings later in the top of the fifth, J.C. Millan added an RBI single to grow the lead to 5-2 off Sanmartin before a pitching change was made.
Chattanooga right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Nutof entered the game and was greeted by Anfernee Seymore who hit his first pitch of the ballpark for a grand slam home run that put Jacksonville's lead at 9-2.
The Lookouts added a run in the bottom of the sixth with a Gavin LaValley two-run home run to make it a 10-4 score.
Mitch Nay added the final Lookouts run with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to put the score at 10-5, which would be the final. Nay recorded a hit and two more RBIs to bring his total to 54. The reigning player of the month is now hitting .304 with 13 homers and 54 RBIs. He currently leads the league in slugging percentage at .561 and OPS at .927.
Lookouts game highlights (from redsminorleagues.com)
Alfredo Rodriguez went 1-5 with an RBI.
Taylor Trammell went 3-4 with a double, triple, walk, and he scored a run.
Mitch Nay went 1-4 with 2 RBI.
Jose Siri went 1-4 with a walk.
Tyler Stephenson went 1-4 with a run scored.
Gavin LaValley went 2-4 with a double, home run (7), 2 runs scored, and he had 2 RBI.
Brantley Bell went 1-1 with a double and a run scored.
Tyler Jay threw 2.0 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts.
Jesse Stallings threw a perfect inning.
On Monday, the Lookouts head to Birmingham to face the Barons. LHP Alex Wood made his Chattanooga debut on a Major League rehab assignment. Game time is set for 8:05 p.m. EDTw
The team returns home on Saturday, July 27 at 7:15 p.m. To get tickets to see the Lookouts and the ZOOperstars! on Saturday visit Lookouts.com.