Lookouts rally for three ninth-inning runs to beat Braves on Friday night

PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves (29-38, 62-74) dropped game two of a five-game series to the Chattanooga Lookouts (60-73, 24-40) on Friday night at Trustmark Park, 4-1. Chattanooga rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie and take a 2-0 series advantage. 

The Lookouts jumped out to a quick 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. The first three batters reached safely, and Michael O'Neill scored on a double play induced by Braves starter Jasseel De La Cruz . 

The 22-year-old right-hander and No. 14 prospect for the Atlanta Braves would rebound to retire the next 13 batters and finish his final start of 2019 with 5.0 innings of one-run baseball, allowing two hits while walking one and striking out two. 

De La Cruz and relievers Jason Hursh and Josh Graham (L, 4-4) combined to retire 24 of the next 25 Chattanooga batters until the ninth inning. Hursh worked 2.0 hitless innings and struck out two, before turning the ball over to Graham.

The Braves broke up Chattanooga starter Packy Naughton's perfect game bid in the fifth inning on a Connor Lien one-out double. The Braves loaded the bases, but could not get on the scoreboard. 

Ray-Patrick Didder  led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single against Naughton and swiped his 28th base to get in scoring position. Riley Unroe  collected his sixth RBI in his last three games to bring home Didder and tie the game at 1-1. Didder is now 21-for-23 in stolen base opportunities in the second-half of the season. 

Gavin LaValley struck for a go-ahead homer on Thursday night, and he provided a go-ahead RBI single to put Chattanooga up 2-1 in the top of the ninth on Friday. Tyler Stephenson added a two-run to increase the lead to 4-1. 

Game three of the season's final homestand is on Saturday night at Trustmark Park. RHP Jonathan Aro  (3-2, 3.05) makes his second-straight start for the Braves against RHP Johendí Jiminian (4-5, 4.53) for Chattanooga. First pitch is set for 6:05 pm with coverage beginning at 6:20 pm on 103.9 WYAB, TuneIn Radio, First Pitch App. and MiLB.tv (subscription required). 

Saturday's Promotions:
Final Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza - Post-Game Fireworks will light up the sky above Trustmark Park after Saturday's game in the final show of the season.
Memphis Grizzlies Night - The Memphis Grizzlies caravan will be at Trustmark Park! The Grizz entertainment team and radio play-by-play man Eric Hasseltine will be in town with giveaways and much more!