Lookouts Roll Through M-Braves in Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN - The Chattanooga Lookouts had an offensive field day on Monday night, smothering the Mississippi Braves with a 13-0 shutout at AT&T Field.

Chattanooga (35-28; 71-62) jumped to an early lead with a five-run first inning off Braves (34-28; 68-63) starter Michael Mader (0-3).

Zack Granite started the inning with a bunt single, moved to second on an errant pickoff, and Mader loaded the bases with back-to-back walks to TJ White and Travis Harrison. DJ Hicks started the scoring with a two-run single.

Mader walked Edgar Corcino to load the bases again, and Stuart Turner made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to right. Niko Goodrum followed with an RBI single, the first of five driven in on the night, to make it 4-0, and Levi Michael added another RBI single for a 5-0 lead.

Mader settled down to hold the Lookouts scoreless over the ensuing four innings but the damage was done. He took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks, striking out three.

The Braves were held in check by Randy LeBlanc (1-0) in his double-A debut, pitching seven innings of five-hit shutout baseball with five strikeouts and two walks.

Chattanooga scored eight more against the Braves bullpen, with four in each of the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Victor Mateo came on in relief and allowed a single to White, a walk to Hicks and a single to Corcino to load the bases, setting up a Turner sacrifice fly. Goodrum followed with a three-run homer to make it 9-0, his fifth home run of the season.

In the eighth, Evan Phillips came out of the bullpen and was responsible for four more runs. Michael was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and White doubled him home for a 10-0 lead. Harrison drew a walk and Hicks singled to bring home another and make it 11-0. Phillips walked Corcino, and Steve Kent came on in relief of Phillips. Turner singled to drive in his third run of the game, and Goodrum followed with an RBI single to make it 13-0.

With the Braves' loss and a Pensacola 4-0 win over Jacksonville, Mississippi slipped to just a half-game ahead of the Blue Wahoos in the standings with 7 games remaining in the season.

The Braves and Lookouts continue the series on Tuesday night with the fourth of a five-game series. First pitch is slated for 6:15 PM CT at AT&T Field between Braves right-hander Max Povse (4-0, 2.47) and Lookouts right-hander Ryan Eades (6-5, 4.44).

Mississippi Braves (34-28, 68-63)                              0 R          5 H         3 E
Chattanooga Lookouts (35-28, 71-62)                     13 R       13 H       1 E

W - LeBlanc (1-0)
L - Mader (0-3)
Time: 2:39
Attendance: 2,028