Lookouts Bash Barons 9-4 in Series Opener

On Tuesday night, the Chattanooga Lookouts defeated the Birmingham Barons 9-4. The Lookouts returned home to AT&T Field for a five game home series against the Birmingham Barons, after a five game road series against the Mobile BayBears in Mobile, AL.
The Lookouts got on the board first when Andy Wilkins launched a solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the second innings, his eighth of the season.
The Barons tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when newly acquired Tito Polo doubled on a fly ball to centerfield, allowing Jose Vinicio to score from first base. Chattanooga retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Max Murphy drew a bases loaded walk, which allowed Jon Rodriguez to score from third base. Ryan Walker also added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth, allowing Wilkins to score from third, to give Chattanooga a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Birmingham managed to cut the deficit to one run after Courtney Hawkins doubled on a line drive to right field, scoring Vinicio from first.
Chattanooga did some serious damage in the bottom of the sixth, as they scored six runs. Carlos Paulino started things off with a ground ball single to centerfield, which allowed both Murphy and Walker to score on the hit, extending the Lookouts lead 5-2. Nick Gordon would then follow with an RBI single to right field, which allowed Travis Harrison to cross the plate, making the score 6-2 in favor of the Lookouts. With two outs, LaMonte Wade Jr hammered a bases clearing double off of the right field wall. Paulino and Gordon scored on Wade's double, giving the Lookouts an 8-2 lead. The Lookouts scored their ninth and final run of the night via a Wilkins RBI single to right field, allowing Wade to easily score from third base.
Birmingham would do their best to rally in the top of the eight, as they scored two runs to make the score 9-4. Chattanooga's bullpen remained strong, as Randy Rosario worked his way out of an eight inning jam before giving way to Nick Anderson in the top of the ninth. Anderson was dominate, as he struck out the first two batter that he faced. Danny Mendick managed to reach base on a fielding error by Lookouts second baseman, Ryan Walker. Walker's error did not prove to be costly, as Birmingham's next batter, Eddy Alvarez popped out to T.J. White in foul territory to end the game.
Andy Wilkins was named the Henpecked Hot Chicken Player of the Game after going 3-for-4 at the plate with a HR, 2R, 2RBI, and a BB. For Wilkins, his home run in the top of the second inning was his fourth in his last six games played.
Chattanooga and Birmingham will meet in game two of the series on Wednesday, July 26^th at 7:15 PM at AT&T Field. Chattanooga will send former first round draft pick, Kohl Stewart (4-4, 3.63) to the mound to start the game. Birmingham will also send a former first rounder to the mound to start the game, in the form of Michael Kopech (6-6, 3.51).