Adam Brett Walker's 29th homer set a new record for the Lookouts.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Tennessee Smokies dropped the Chattanooga Lookouts Wednesday, 8-4. The Lookouts fell to 26-31 in the second half.
Adam Brett Walker II smacked his record breaking 29th home run in the loss to the Smokies. Walker's homer set the team's modern era record for home runs in a season, passing Tim Costo (1992) and Scott Schebler (2014) who each had 28.
Walker also moved into a tie with Randy Braun (1985) for the second most RBIs in a season with 100 and is one away from tying Brick Smith's modern era (1986) record of 101. The outfielder's 29 home runs still lead the Southern League and is the fourth most in all of Minor League Baseball.
Walker's record breaking blast in the fourth inning proved to be the highlight for the Lookouts as the Smokies put up five runs earlier in that inning. Up 6-2, Smokies starting pitcher Ryan Williams and the team's bullpen did the rest only allowing eight hits.
Jorge Polanco and Heiker Meneses each had two hits. Max Kepler, who entered the day leading AA in batting average (.337), went 0-3 and is now hitless in his last three games.He’s now batting .334.
Lookouts starter Aaron Slegers struggled, allowing six hits, four walks and two home runs - totaling six runs - in four innings. Nick Burdi struck out three in two scoreless innings. D.J. Johnson allowed a run in two innings and Brandon Peterson allowed a run in the ninth inning.
Chattanooga did manage two more runs on a Travis Harrison HR and a Shannon Wilkerson RBI groundout, but the team couldn't claw its way back from the deficit.
Thursday night the two teams face off for the 25th and final time this season.
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RHP DJ Baxendale (6-4, 3.77) gets the nod against LHP Jeffry Antigua. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.