Lara homers again, but Generals fall 7-3 to Lookouts

Jordy Lara hit his 26th overall home run of the season on Friday night

By Tony Abati

August 23, 2014

JACKSON, TENN. (AUGUST 22, 2014) - The Chattanooga Lookouts (29-30/55-74) spoiled the opener of Jackson's final homestand with a 7-3 victory over the Generals (27-34/58-72) Friday in Jackson. The Lookouts scored all seven runs in the second, third and fourth innings.. It was the first meeting between the in-state, north division rivals in 121 days.

Chattanooga scored first as Jeremy Hazelbaker doubled home former Jackson infielder Alex Liddi and then Hazelbaker scored on a base hit from Noel Cuevas and the Lookouts led 2-0.

Jackson came right back as they cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second. Dario Pizzano (2x3, RBI, BB) singled to bring home Pat Kivlehan (0x3, R, BB) and the lead was cut to 2-1 after only two innings.

In the third inning, starter Tyler Pike (3-4, 8.37) ran into some trouble as Mariners' brother Corey Seager doubled home Scott Schebler and Chris O'Brien followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Daniel Mayora to increase the lead to 4-1. Alex Liddi then singled to bring home Seager and Liddi scored on a Hazelbaker base hit and at that point it was all Lookouts, 6-1.

The lead reached 7-1 an inning later as Mayora and Seager hit back-to-back doubles and Mayora scored Chattanooga's seventh run of the game.

Jackson made things interesting in the seventh as Jabari Blash (0x4, R) reached on an error with one out and Jordy Lara (1x4, R, HR, 2 RBI) followed with his fourth homer in a Jackson uniform this season and third this week. Lara has 26 home runs combined between his time at High Desert and Jackson. The big fly cut the lead to four at 7-3, but Jackson did not get any closer to the Lookouts.

Andres Santiago (5-8, 4.80) went 7.0 innings and gave up three runs, only one earned, on five hits. Pike had another tough outing as he suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings of work.

The Generals will attempt to even the series on Saturday against the Lookouts in game two of the series. Jackson will send Cam Hobson (8-9, 3.93) to the mound as Nick Struck (4-6, 5.46) will make the start for Chattanooga. Saturday is SEC Night with ticket giveaways and a postgame fireworks extravaganza. The game will begin at 6:05 p.m. and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.