Chattanooga Lookouts logoEven four games into a season, atonement can be appreciated in minor league baseball.
Chattanooga outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker drew a clap of frustration from Lookouts manager Razor Shines in the first inning of Sunday's game at AT&T Field, when he made a base-running gaffe after stealing second. By the eighth inning, however, Hazelbaker was receiving a slap on the rear from Shines after reaching third on a game-tying triple.
Daniel Mayora followed Hazelbaker's shot to right-center with a two-run home run to left-center as the Lookouts rallied past Jackson 5-3 to square the season-opening series at two games apiece.
"He's an intense manager, and everybody loves playing for him," Hazelbaker said. "We lost a chance early with me being on second with one out to take an early lead, and luckily that didn't come back to bite us in the butt. It's a lot of emotion coming out of him, and we try and give it back."
Jackson entered the bottom of the eighth leading 3-2 and had former Cleveland State and Tennessee Tech pitcher Stephen Pryor on the mound. Pryor, a Ringgold, Ga., resident who pitched in seven games last season for the Seattle Mariners, walked the first two batters but then got Darnell Sweeney to ground into a double play.
Read more in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.