Stars stop Lookouts' 5-game winning streak

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Chattanooga Lookouts had their five-game winning streak snapped Thursday night, Huntsville winning 4-2 before an AT&T Field crowd of 5,559.

It was the first game for the Lookouts since Wednesday's announcement that the Los Angeles Dodgers, their parent club, are being taken over by Major League Baseball. Lookouts first baseman Scott Van Slyke said a lot of the Lookouts didn't learn of the takeover until Thursday.

"It's a big mess, but I don't think it really affects us that much," Van Slyke said. "It might in the future, but not right now. I don't know. What are you supposed to say about that kind of thing, you know?"

Lookouts hitting coach Franklin Stubbs was the first baseman for the 1988 Dodgers, who won the franchise's last World Series title. Stubbs declined comment on the takeover, and pitching coach Chuck Crim said the Class AA club really doesn't know what's going on.

"All we know is that we're supposed to have new ownership," Crim said. "We're going to come out here and do our thing. We're still the Los Angeles Dodgers, and we're still proud of it."

Huntsville took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Steffan Wilson's two-out double to right field scored Sergio Miranda and Sean Halton. Those runs were the first allowed by the Lookouts within the first four innings all week.

The Lookouts (9-5) pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the first when Van Slyke singled to right with two out to score Jaime Pedroza.

A throwing error by Lookouts starting pitcher Chris Withrow in the fourth enabled the Stars to go up 3-1. Withrow (0-3) allowed four runs on five hits and five walks in five innings.

"It's just kind of a tough-luck situation, really," Crim said. "He's just happened to be the guy. He threw the ball definitely well enough on the road [in a 2-0 loss to Birmingham last Saturday], and it's just tough luck. Wins and losses in the minor leagues are kind of an iffy thing.

"We just want to get him throwing the ball like a major leaguer, and he threw the ball like a major leaguer last game. Tonight he just battled with his whole mix."

Pedroza and Van Slyke each went 2-for-3 for the Lookouts, Van Slyke raising his average to .371.

"I'm just going to try and ride this out as long as I can," he said.

Steven Jackson (0-0, 5.00 ERA) is the Lookouts' scheduled starting pitcher for tonight's 7:15 series finale, with Michael Bowman (0-0, 1.80) scheduled for the Stars.