Michael Antonini

Chattanooga starting pitcher Michael Antonini racked up nine strikeouts in leading the Lookouts to an 8-2 victory Friday night over Montgomery at AT&T Field.

The Lookouts, who lead the Southern League's North Division second half, improved to 40-27 with three games remaining in the half.

Antonini worked with the lead after the second inning, when Hector Gimenez and Travis Denker opened with singles and Brian Cavazos-Galvez followed with a three-run home run to right. Gimenez opened the fourth inning with a double and scored on Denker's single to center to give the Lookouts a 4-0 lead.

Montgomery scored twice in the seventh to get within 4-2, but Chattanooga put it away with four in the eighth. Alfredo Silverio accounted for two of the runs with a homer to center.

Denker went 4-for-4, and the trio of Gimenez, Denker and Cavazos-Galvez combined to go 8-for-11 with six runs scored.