Lookouts Start Fast, Sink Blue Wahoos In Series Opener

The Blue Wahoos fast-start was short-lived in Tuesday's series opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
After quickly tying the game in the first inning with a trio of hits by the first three batters, two of those hits for extra-bases, the Blue Wahoos didn't get another basehit until the seventh inning of a 6-3 loss against the Lookouts at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was Chattanooga's pitching, which has struggled much of the season, taking over the game.
Starter Brad Markey (2-3) settled into a groove to pitch five innings and allow just one more baserunner on a walk. It lowered his earned run average to 4.69.
Three other Chattanooga relievers combined to allow just one hit in the final four innings. The Blue Wahoos used five pitchers in a game that lasted more than 3 hours, 30 minutes.
The game began a five-game homestand with the Cincinnati Reds affiliate and former Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly. The loss dropped the Blue Wahoos to 6.5 games behind the Biloxi Shuckers in the second half South League South Division race.
But the Blue Wahoos (63-56 overall, 25-24 second half) remain in a good position for the wild-card playoff spot with 19 games remaining.
Biloxi, the first-half division winner, now has a three-game lead on Jacksonville in the second-half. If the Shuckers win both half-season divisions, the second playoff team becomes the one with the next-best overall record.
Pensacola has a five-game lead for next best record.
The Blue Wahoos were forced to go through their bullpen after starter Jhoan Duran did not record an out in the third inning and was struck by a hard ground ball off his leg by the Lookouts Michael Beltre. The first three batters in the inning, beginning with former No. 1 draft pick Jonathan India, reached base without a hit.
India led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Duran walked the next two batters to load the bases. He threw a wild pitch that scored India. Gavin LaValley, who played in Pensacola last season as Reds affiliate, followed with a RBI single.
Beltre's shot through the middle deflected off Duran's leg, scoring catcher Tyler Stephenson with the game's fourth run. After a short delay, Duran left the game. Reliever Jovani Moran gave up a single to former Blue Wahoos' player Carlton Daal, then a bases-load walk to Alberti Chavez for the fourth run of the inning.
That would end Chattanooga's scoring in a game where the Lookouts (54-65 overall, 18-32 second half) recorded 12 hits. Eight of the nine batters in Chattanooga's lineup had at least one hit. All nine factored into the box score with India (0-for-4) scoring a run.
The Lookouts scored their first two runs in the first inning. After Duran retired leadoff batter Michael O'Neill, four of the next five batters reached base, all on singles. Stephenson, a former No. 1 pick, and LaValley each had RBI.
The Blue Wahoos answered in the bottom of the first. Alex Kirilloff led off with a double. Royce Lewis singled to drive him home. Trevor Larnach doubled to score Lewis.
But Markey retired the next three batters to end the inning and was superb the rest of his outing. As was the bullpen. The Lookouts were once last in the Southern League in team pitching.
The Blue Wahoos got a run in the eighth inning on Lewis' sacrifice fly. They had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning when Caleb Hamilton grounded into an inning-ending double play.