Chattanooga Lookouts Sell Out on Opening Night!

The Chattanooga Lookouts played their first game of the year in front of a sell out crowd of 6,371 fans at AT&T Field. The sold out crowd was the team's first Opening Day sell out since April 15th, 2008.  
In front of a jam-packed house the Chattanooga Lookouts scored four runs, but couldn't muster any more in a close 5-4 loss.  The team has now lost their last eight season openers.  
In the first inning the home team got on the board quickly as Nick Gordon led off the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly. After the Barons knotted the game up in the third the Lookouts retook the lead in the bottom of the third on a Gordon RBI. Gordon finished the contest going 4-for-5 with a run, a triple and an RBI.  They extended the lead in the fourth when catcher Brian Navaretto singled in a run to make it 3-1. 
At the top of the fifth inning the Barons bats came alive. Danny Mendick started off the inning with a leadoff double. An out later right hander Ryan Eades came out of the bullpen to replace Zack Littell. Littell allowed two runs, but struck out seven in his season debut.  
Eades issued four walks in the inning to walk in two runs. The two bases loaded walks tied the game up at three for Birmingham. In the bottom of the frame Ryan Walker recorded his second hit of the day when he blasted a solo home run on the first pitch of the inning.  
Walks continued to plague the Lookouts later in the game, as the Barons capatlized on their mishaps with a run in the seventh and the go ahead run in the eighth. Chattanooga finished the game with 10 walks and 14 strikeouts. 
Colton Turner recorded the win for Birmingham with Brandon Brennan netting the save. Lookouts righty Todd VanSteensel was handed his first loss of the season.  
The Lookouts continue their homestand tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. on a Fireworks Friday featuring MEGA FIREWORKS! Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and tickets can be bought online at Lookouts.com or over the phone at 423-267-4TIX.