Darnell Sweeney led off the game with a home run to center field, which was his 14th homer this season, but that was all the offense Chattanooga could muster in a 4-1 road loss Wednesday that dropped the team four games out of first place in the second-half race for the Southern League's north division.
Birmingham tied the game in the bottom of the first and took the lead for good in the third inning on a Dan Black single to score Scott Schebler.
Chattanooga was led by Jeremy Hazelbaker's two hits, but the Lookouts were outhit 9-5 by the hosts. Steve Smith allowed four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss for the Lookouts.
Game five of a five-game series in Birmingham is tonight at 8:05 EDT.
Jeremy Kehrt (0-0, 1.50) is scheduled to start for the Lookouts, with Myles Jaye (4-10, 5.61) scheduled for the Barons.