Fans were treated to another pitcher's duel until the Lookouts scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a Luis Nunez homer, to come away with a 3-1 win over the Mississippi Braves in Tuesday night action at AT&T Field.
Zeke Spruill battled Chattanooga's Chris Reed for much of the game until the bullpen took over.
Mississippi struck first in the top of the second inning. Jaime Pedroza got the Mississippi bats going with a one-out single up the middle. After a fly out, Lookouts starting pitcher Chris Reed hit opposing pitcher Zeke Spruill in the foot to put runners at first and second. Todd Cunningham then ripped a single to center to easily score Pedroza.
The Lookouts countered with a run of their own in the bottom portion of the second inning. Jake Lemmerman continued his hot-hitting ways with a leadoff double. Nunez then laid down a bunt single, which advanced Lemmerman to third. Brahiam Maldonado then singled to left to tie-up the score, 1-1. Griff Erickson grounded out into a double play to end the rally.
After numerous failed scoring attempts on both sides, the Lookouts finally broke the stalemate in bottom of the eighth. Nunez hit a towering solo shot over the left-field wall to give the Lookouts a 2-1 lead. Chattanooga added an insurance run later on in the inning on a Nick Buss RBI single.
Chris Withrow (3-2), who threw two scoreless innings in relief, was the winning pitcher
Steven Ames entered the game for the Lookouts in the ninth and quickly recorded three outs to earn his 14th save of the season.
Inning by inning Recap of the game.
Box Score
Tomorrow, the Chattanooga Lookouts will hit the road to play a five-game series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The Lookouts will be back in town on Tuesday, August 14th to play a five-game homestand against the Jacksonville Suns. Tickets for these games or any other Lookouts home game can be purchased at the Lookouts Box Office at AT&T Field, online at www.lookouts.com, or by calling (423) 267-4849.
Zeke Spruill is considered one of Atlanta's pitching prospects.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt