Adam Brett Walker homered twice for the Lookouts.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Adam Brett Walker II hammered two home runs, but the Lookouts (29-21) could not quell the Tennessee Smokies' (29-23) offense in the 9-3 loss. Tuesday night's game marked the second time the Southern League Leader in home runs has recorded a multi-homer game with the first coming on April 18 against the Birmingham Barons.
With the win, the Smokies improve their record to 29-23 on the first half of the season. Chattanooga's loss drops them to 29-21 in the season's opening half. Thanks to their victory, Tennessee is now one game back of first place in the Southern League North Division entering Wednesday morning's contest.
The stumbling Lookouts have lost five of their last six games against Biloxi and Tennessee.
Walker's HRs accounted for all of the team's offense tonight. His first came in the fourth inning with the team already down seven. The slugger capped off the night with his second one in the bottom of the ninth inning. The outfielder was also the only Lookouts' player to have multiple hits.
Chattanooga's Alex Wimmers, who made the start, pitched a scoreless first inning, but then he gave up three in the second, one in the third and three more in the fourth. He gave up seven runs on ten hits and two walks in four innings.
Alex Wimmers lost his first game of the season.
The Smokies got on the scoreboard early, as they struck for three runs in the second inning. With one out, Stephen Bruno singled to left field to bring up Bijan Rademacher. The California native cranked a deep fly ball to right that slammed off the wall, allowing Bruno to score all the way from first. The left-handed hitter ended up at third with a triple, as Tennessee grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Ryan Dent walked and Anthony Giansanti followed by bringing home the inning's second run on a RBI ground out to short. Rademacher scored from third and Dent moved up to second, giving Tennessee a 2-0 advantage. Elliot Soto continued the onslaught by ripping a double down the right field line. That allowed Dent to race home from second and the Smokies jumped out in front, 3-0.
The Smokies would add another run in the top of the third. Albert Almora Jr. led off with a single and advanced to second on a one-out, base-hit by Willson Contreras. After Billy McKinney smacked a single of his own to left to load the bases, Bruno roped a fly ball to center. Byron Buxton was able to track it down, but the sacrifice fly scored Almora Jr. and Tennessee had a 4-0 lead.
A three-run fourth inning broke the game wide open for the Smokies. Wes Darvill cranked a pitch from Wimmers over the wall in right field for a two-run home run. The blast was Darvill's first Double-A homer of the year and it put the Smokies ahead, 6-0.
Madison Boer came on and worked scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth frames. However, he was left the game with the bases loaded. DJ Johnson came in and gave up a two-run hit, both charged to Boer. Johnson worked 1.1 innings without being charged with a run. Zack Jones struck out one in a perfect ninth inning.
In the first inning, Miguel Sano singled and stole second. In his next at bat, he grounded into a double play. An inning later, he came out. The report on Sano indicates that he may have re-aggravated his jammed index finger.
Tennessee's offensive outburst was headlined by Wes Darvill who replaced Anthony Giansanti in the second inning. The infielder finished the night going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and four RBIs.
Starting pitcher Frank Batista (6-1) nabbed the win for Tennessee and Wimmers (2-1) took the loss.
Box
Tomorrow the two teams meet for a Wednesday matinee game. First pitch is set for 11:15 a.m. with gates opening at 10:00 a.m. RHP Jose Berrios will make the start for the Lookouts and attempt to become the first person in the League to reach seven wins.
Frank Batista coasted to his sixth win of the season.
photo by Tim Evearitt