The Chattanooga Lookouts insist they're not paying attention to the Southern League standings this early in the season.
If they did, they would notice they're making quite the headway.
Chattanooga scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night at AT&T Field to snatch a 4-3 victory over Tennessee. The Smokies won 15 of their first 18 games but have lost their last three, while the Lookouts are 11-10 with three straight wins.
"I had no idea what their stats were," Lookouts right fielder Scott Van Slyke said. "Usually towards the end of the first half, you see where everybody is and what you have to do to make up some ground. Right now, we're just trying to win some games."
The 4-5 punch of Andrew Lambo and Van Slyke combined for five of Chattanooga's 11 hits. Lambo improved his batting average to .342, while Van Slyke raised his to .317.
"We have a young group coming up mixed in with some veterans," hitting coach John Valentin said, "and they're taking some really good approaches at the plate, which I'm happy with."
Lambo and Van Slyke got the Lookouts going in the ninth with a double and a single, and an Eddy Perez single to right scored Lambo to tie the game. Chattanooga had the bases loaded with one out when Smokies reliever David Cales struck the inside of pinch-hitter Elian Herrera's leg on a 1-1 pitch.
"I knew I had to win it somehow," Herrera said.
David Pfeiffer came off the disabled list and started for the Lookouts, allowing first-inning home runs to Ty Wright and Robinson Chirinos. Pfeiffer then worked four scoreless innings before relievers Jesus Rodriguez, James Adkins and Matt Sartor combined for four.
Alberto Bastardo (2-1, 4.95 ERA) is scheduled to start tonight's 7:15 game for the Lookouts, with Craig Carpenter (0-0, 6.00) scheduled for the Smokies.