Silverio now shining for Lookouts

Chattanooga Lookouts center fielder Alfredo Silverio came on a little too late to receive a Southern League All-Star Game invitation, but he is reeling in the recognition now.

Silverio experienced a nice double honor Thursday, earning Southern League hitter of the week honors and getting named to the World Team roster for the Futures Game. The Futures Game will be held July 10 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

"I had no idea I would get selected to the Futures Game," said Silverio, a 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic. "I thank God for giving me the opportunity."

The Lookouts opened the second half of their season Thursday night, falling 7-5 to Jacksonville at AT&T Field. Silverio went 1-for-4 with a walk and is now batting .323 for the season.

Ballots for this past Tuesday's all-star game had been returned before the final two series of the first half. Silverio went 18-for-43 (.419) in those 10 games, and he went 13-for-26 (.500) last week with two home runs, one triple, six doubles and seven RBIs.

"He's as hot as I probably can recall any hitter being," Lookouts manager Carlos Subero said. "He is definitely swinging the bat well, and it's against all type of pitches and all type of pitchers. The kid offensively has exceeded what you would expect from him at this stage, just to take over the league the way he has."

Silverio spent most of last season at Inland Empire in the high SIngle-A California League, where he hit .292 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs. His recent surge has enabled him to surpass left fielder Scott Van Slyke, Tuesday's all-star game MVP, as Chattanooga's top hitter.

"He's doing something special," Van Slyke said, "and when you're doing like that, you want it to last because that's usually not how people hit for extended periods of time. It's fun to watch him hit right now."

Said Silverio: "I would like to keep hitting like this the whole year just to see what would happen."

Jacksonville broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth inning when Alex Romero's one-out sacrifice to center off Josh Lindblom scored Ryan Curry. Lindblom was optioned from Los Angeles earlier Thursday.

The Lookouts fell behind 4-0 but pulled within a run on Hector Gimenez's two-run single to right in the third inning. They took a 5-4 lead in the fourth when starting pitcher Allen Webster hit a two-run double to right-center.

Nate Eovaldi (5-4, 2.84) is scheduled to start tonight's 7:15 game for the Lookouts, with Dallas Trahern (1-1, 4.29) scheduled for the Suns.

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