LookoutsThe biggest guarantee in Chattanooga sports entertainment continues.
Saturday night included the 20th annual "Used Car Night" promotion at a Chattanooga Lookouts game, and it was the 13th occasion in which AT&T Field housed the giveaway. The flow of free wheels around the warning track resulted in a crowd of 6,378, the event's 13th consecutive sellout at AT&T.
"It's one of the givens, and it's just fantastic," Lookouts president and general manager Rich Mozingo said. "We've got such great partners, and the community understands it. It's just a fun night out. There was a Cadillac here tonight that was nice."
Mississippi defeated the Lookouts 8-7, breaking a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning on a Joe Leonard single to center field that scored Todd Cunningham. Cunningham had an RBI double to center in the seventh inning and Leonard homered to right in the eighth to give the Braves a three-run lead.
Part two of "Used Car Night" will take place today at 2:15, when seven more vehicles will be given away as the promotion is extended over two games for the first time.
"The original goal was to give away twice as many cars as we normally do, so we were going to do 20 cars for 20 years," Mozingo said. "We came really close to it with 18 cars, and we may even sneak another one in there. We're going to have a fantastic Sunday, but the chance of it selling out is pretty remote."
Mississippi pounced on Chattanooga starting pitcher Aaron Miller, with Evan Gattis hitting a two-run homer to right in the first inning and Leonard adding a three-run homer to center in the third. The Lookouts (24-18) pulled within 5-2 later in the third on a J.T. Wise double into the left-field corner that scored Rafael Ynoa and Nick Buss.
Buss singled to right before scoring, which was the 34th consecutive game in which he's reached base. Wise had an RBI double in the fifth inning, as did Jake Lemmerman to score Brahiam Maldonado to forge the 5-all tie.
Allen Webster (5-8, 3.72 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound today for the Lookouts, with J.R. Graham (0-0, 3.21) scheduled for the Braves.