The Chattanooga Lookouts scored ten runs in the first three innings and then withstood a furious rally from the Columbus Clingstones to win the series finale on Sunday by a score of 11-10. Recent callup Leo Balcazar went three for five with four runs batted in to pace Chattanooga.
In the first inning Balcazar got the scoring started with a solo homerun. Later in the inning Cam Collier (the Reds number four prospect according to mlb.com) hit a two run double and was brought in by a Jay Allen II single. Balcazar and Collier were at it again in the second as Balcazar drove in two with a single and Collier plated him with a sacrifice fly.
Leadoff hitter Edwin Arroyo (the Reds number eight prospect according to mlb.com) was three for six on the day with a run scored and two runs batted in. The Lookouts hitters pounded out thirteen total hits.
On the mound reliever Arij Fransen picked up the victory with three solid innings in relief. He allowed one unearned run on one hit. Closer Trevor Kuncl was his typical, unhittable self in the ninth inning. He had two strikeouts and a ground out to close out the victory and earn his 14th save. Somehow Kuncl is not listed on the Reds Top 30 prospects list despite now sporting 1.09 earned run average. In 33 total innings he has allowed only 22 hits and four earned runs.
Chattanooga now sits 4.5 games behind streaking first place Birmingham who has won nine of their last ten games. The Lookouts welcome Knoxville who has lost seven of their last ten games to town starting Tuesday night, a 7:05 p.m. game time. Knoxville has four of the Cubs top ten prospects on their roster highlighted by number three prospect Jefferson Rojas, a 20 year old infielder and right handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins who is number five on their prospect list.