The Chattanooga Lookouts had a chance to take over first place in the Southern League’s Northern Division on Friday night at AT&T Field, but are still in second place a half-game back of the Tennessee Smokies following a 5-2 loss to the Birmingham Barons.
The Smokies lost to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, but the Lookouts were not able to take advantage as the Barons scored two runs in each of the first two innings and made them stand to snap a two-game losing streak while the Chattanooga loss snapped a two-game winning streak.
Chattanooga is now 29-25 overall while the Barons are now 19-36. Friday’s game was the fourth in the six-game series with the next game being Saturday at 7:15.
Lookouts manager Jose Moreno liked what he saw from Chattanooga starter Joe Boyle, at least for the last three innings.
He retired the final 11 Birmingham batters he faced, but two runs in each of the first two innings were more than the Lookouts could overcome.
“We got a great effort from Joe after the second inning, but we just didn’t hit and weren’t able to take advantage of our opportunities at the plate,” Moreno said before the Friday night fireworks began.
“We just didn’t hit and even at the end, got thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple. We just need to be a bit more consistent,” Moreno added.
Jose Rodriguez singled to begin the game and stole second before scoring ahead of Chris Shaw’s ninth home run, a two-run shot to left-center with two outs.
Taylor Snyder and Ben Norman led off the Birmingham second with walks and both scored, Snyder racing home on a double by Rodriguez before Norman made it 4-0 on a grounder to third by Moises Castillo.
That was more than enough support for Birmingham lefty Tommy Sommer, who allowed one run on five hits in seven strong innings. He also had four strikeouts and three walks with the only run being a solo homer by third baseman Nick Northcut with two outs in the second.
The Lookouts missed a golden opportunity in the third when they loaded the bases with one out, only to come away with nothing after Rece Hinds grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Blake Dunn and Francisco Urbaez had singled with one out and moved up a base following a walk to Alex McGarry, but all hope was wiped out when Hinds grounded the first pitch to short for the taylor-made twin killing.
Yoelqui Cespedes scored an unearned run for the Barons in the eighth. He singled to left with one out and stole second before scoring on a throwing error by Chattanooga second baseman Urbaez.
The difference was 5-1 going to the bottom of the eighth when Dunn walked to lead off and stole second before scoring easily on a double to right-center by Hinds, who was gunned down trying to stretch his hit into a triple.
The Lookouts never threatened again as Ben Holmes pitched a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season.
Rodriguez and Cespedes both had two hits for the Barons, who finished with five as a team. Dunn and Northcut both had a pair for Chattanooga as the Lookouts ended the day with six.
A total of 4,181 fans watched the game and most stayed for the ever-popular post-game fireworks show that has become a regular occurrence following Friday home games.
BIRMINGHAM 220 000 010 – 5 5 0
CHATTANOOGA 010 000 010 – 2 6 1
Sommer, Vannelle (8), Holmes (9) and Torres; Boyle, Cachutt (6), Byrne (8) and Vellojin.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)