Lookouts Beat Smokies In Walk-Off, 4-3

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Chattanooga jumped out to an early 3-0 before the Smokies scored three unanswered runs to even the game in the eighth. However, the Lookouts would come away with the victory, as CF Zack Granite ripped a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Tennessee, 4-3, on Thursday night at AT&T Field.

With the loss, the Smokies fall to 13-19 in the second half of the campaign and 41-61 overall. The Lookouts have improved their second half record to 18-15 and total mark to 54-49.

Tied at three, RF Edgar Corcino (2-4, 2 R, RBI) led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center. After SS Engelb Vielma (0-2) sacrifice bunted the runner to second, 2B Levi Michael (3-3, RBI) plopped a single into left to put runners at the corners. On a 2-0 pitch, Granite (1-4, RBI) slapped a line drive past the pitcher and into center field for a hit. Corcino scored easily to give the Lookouts a 4-3 victory.

Chattanooga jumped out to an initial 1-0 lead in the first. DH Ryan Walker (2-4, R, 2B, SO) cranked a double into right with one out and 1B Mitch Garver (2-4, RBI, SO) brought him home with a bloop RBI single to right-center.

The Lookouts added two more runs in the second. C Stuart Turner (0-3, R, BB, SO) ignited the rally with a leadoff walk and advanced all the way to third thanks to a stolen base and a throwing error. Corcino made Tennessee pay for their miscue, as he ripped a base-hit to center to score Turner and stretch the Lookouts lead to 2-0. The 24-year-old continued the attack by moving to second on a stolen bag and then to third on a sacrifice bunt. Michael would score him on a sacrifice fly to right, putting Chattanooga up, 3-0.

The Smokies scratched to within a run after scoring a pair in the fourth. Following a leadoff single by 1B Victor Caratini (2-3, 2 R, BB), 3B Gioskar Amaya (1-4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 SO) crushed a liner into the left-center field gap. Caratini scooted all the way around from first to score on the Venezuelan native's two-bagger to make it a 3-1 contest. The next hitter - C Ben Carhart (1-4, RBI, SO) - pulled Tennessee within 3-2 thanks a run-scoring ground out to short.

In the eighth, Tennessee drove in the equalizer. With two out, Caratini drew a free pass and DH David Freitas (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SO) launched a shot to deep left. The blast could not quite clear the fence, but the former Hawai'i standout's double scored Caratini to tie the contest at three.

Neither starter picked up a decision despite earning quality starts.

RHP Michael Wagner (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) went a season-high six innings and surrendered three runs on six hits for Tennessee. Chattanooga's LHP David Hurlbut (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 SO) struck out six over seven frames and left in line for the victory, but received a no-decision.

RHP Raul Fernandez (1.0 IP, SO) tossed a three up, three down ninth inning to garner his second victory of the 2016 season for Chattanooga. RHP Nick Sarianides (0.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER) suffered his second loss after issuing the game-winning run in the contest's final frame.

The Smokies will look even the series edge on Friday night, as they are expected to send Southern League Mid-Season All-Star - RHP Brad Markey (6-6, 2.66 ERA) to the bump. RHP Felix Jorge (0-2, 5.85 ERA) - Minnesota's 24th-best prospect according to Baseball America - is scheduled to toe the slab for the Lookouts.

The Pilot Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 7:00 p.m. ET, leading up to the 7:15 p.m. ET first pitch from AT&T Field. Friday evening's broadcast can be heard on Sports Radio WNML 99.1 FM and 990 AM, as well as SmokiesBaseball.com and via the TuneInRadio and MiLB First Pitch apps.

After the road trip, the Smokies will return home on Friday, August 5, for a five-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. In honor of the upcoming festivies in Rio de Janeiro, it will be Olympics Night at the ballpark. There will be special videoboard graphics, on-field games and music as a part of the fun. It will also be College Fair Night, as students will have a chance to meet with representatives from local colleges and universities on the concourse. The affair on August 5 will also be another Scout Night with special ticket packages available for local boy and girl scout groups. Finally, like all Friday home contests, there will be a tremendous postgame fireworks show following the final out. Friday night fireworks are presented by Pepsi, Coors Light, WIVK, WVLT and the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Single-game tickets, as well as multi-voucher and season ticket packages are still available, and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

The Tennessee Smokies Charity of Choice for the 2016 season is Alzheimer's Tennessee. Alzheimer's Tennessee's mission is to serve those facing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, to promote brain health through education, and to champion global prevention and treatment efforts. For more information on how to join the Tennessee Smokies in helping Alzheimer's Tennessee achieve their mission, please visit http://www.alztennessee.org/smokies/.

 

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES

The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the ten-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.