Baseball fans who have yet to see Stephen Gonsalves, 3-0, may need to get to AT&T Field in the next homestand. In all likelihood, the southpaw will be moving up to Triple-A soon.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Jackson, TN.- The Chattanooga Lookouts set out on a mission to win Tuesday night and assigned their ace, lefty Stephen Gonsalves, to lead the way. He did and Brian Navarreto added the home run that made the scoring difference in the 2-1 win over the Generals.
The Lookouts got on the board in the first inning thanks to a Nick Gordon single that was followed by the seventh double on the season from Zander Wiel.
In the second inning Brian Navarreto launched his first home run of the season for the early 2-0 lead.
Stephen Gonsalves got the start for Chattanooga and a walk to lead off the second inning turned the score to 2-1 when he allowed a two-out double. But It would remain that way until Gonsalves exited the game after five strong innings. His pitch count did climb to 91 pitches, as he struck out nine Generals hitters. Of those pitches, 60 went for strikes including 12 of the swing and miss variety. He struck out two hitters in each of the second, third, and fifth innings, and the side in the fourth. His ERA on the year held steady after the outing at 1.77.
Zack Jones pitched a scoreless sixth inning, striking out three around a leadoff single and a walk. Tyler Jay made his return from the disabled list in the seventh and recorded two quick outs before an error on a grounder to second base that was followed by a single put a runner in scoring position. Jay buckled down and got another ground ball to end the threat and keep the Lookouts up 2-1.
Todd Van Steensel was summoned from the bullpen in the eighth, and finished the game for Chattanooga, picking up his first save of the season along the way. In his two innings he walked one and struck out two.
Gordon led the offense with a 2-for-4 night including a run scored and his third triple. He was also caught stealing and picked off third base on the basepaths. Wiel and LaMonte Wade both finished 1-3 with a walk in the victory that put the Lookouts above .500 on the year.
Box
The Lookouts send RH-Randy LeBlanc to the mound facing RH-Sam Lewis in a noon game showdown for finale Wednesday. Milb.com and Real 96.1 will have the call at 12:50 a.m..
Chattanooga welcomes the Tennessee Smokies to AT&T Field for a five-game series beginning Thursday night. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.