Chattanooga Lookouts Outfielder Kyle RussellHOOVER, Ala. -- The Birmingham Barons opened their Southern League baseball series Monday night with a 2-1 defeat of the visiting Chattanooga Lookouts.
Corey Smith, who played for Chattanooga during the 2010 and '11 seasons, hit a two-out single to left field that scored Erik Morrison in the seventh inning and provided the difference.
The Barons took a 1-0 lead in the first when Tyler Saladino drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third and scored on a Seth Loman groundout. The Lookouts, who have lost three in a row and are 25-26, tied the game in the fourth inning when Smith committed an error that enabled Blake Smith to score.
Lookouts left fielder Kyle Russell continued his slide with an 0-for-3 night and now is hitting .238.
Game two of the five-game series is tonight at 8:05 EDT. Matt Magill (4-2, 3.19 ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Lookouts; Cameron Bayne (4-3, 4.80) is scheduled for the Barons.