Brandon Williamson throws against M-Braves.
photo by Joseph Dycus
When he’s got things rolling, Brandon Williamson looks like a major league pitcher. The lanky 6-6 lefty with a long stride and overpowering stuff, there’s nothing hitters can do but haplessly fan at the plate when the 24 year-old is locked in.
Jalen Miller was able to get him early for a home run and a bases-loaded walk in the first and second innings, but that was it.
Williamson got things under control and helped the Lookouts split the series with a 7-2 win over the M-Braves.
“He battled today, and slow starts are going to happen no matter what level you’re at” said coach Nate Irving, who was filling in for an under-the-weather Jose Moreno. “Brandon did a great job of making adjustments.”
The Lookouts took the lead in the bottom of the third. Center fielder Quin Cotton just missed a home run and instead settled for a ground-rule double to start the inning. Then Francisco Urbaez slapped a double into center to drive home his teammate.
Urbaez didn’t have to wait all too long to job into home too. The red-hot Byrd Tenerowicz hit his third home run in the last two days to give the Lookouts a 4-2 lead over the M-Braves. Braves starter Tanner Gordon went three and two-thirds innings, and gave up six hits and seven runs (three earned).
“Our energy was different, and the guys were ready to go from pitch number one,” Irving said. “We took some good swings and built confidence from there.”
That’s because it was a hit and error-fest for Mississippi in the bottom of the fourth. TJ Hopkins reached first to start the inning after shoddy glovework by CJ Alexander at third, and then catcher Chuckie Robinson singled into center. First-baseman James Free drove a ground ball into right to score Hopkins.
A few batters later, Urbaez reached first after a throwing error by Alexander, a play in which Robinson scored. The Lookouts put a bow on their run-scoring with an Isiah Gilliam double into center that got both Cotton and Urbaez in safely.
Williamson enjoyed a much smoother journey through the game, ending with a stateline of six innings pitched, two earned runs allowed, and eight strikeouts with only a single walk surrendered. The Lookouts will take to the road and play the Smokies next week.
BOX SCORE:
M-BRAVES: 110 000 000 – 2/7/2
LOOKOUTS: 003 400 00X – 7/10/2
WP: WILLIAMSON
LP: GORDON
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