LookoutsSix Chattanooga Lookouts had multiple hits during Wednesday night's 9-6 victory over Jacksonville at AT&T Field.
Blake Smith went 3-for-5 and J.T. Wise drove in five runs to lead Chattanooga, which continues to inch closer to the Southern League's North Division second-half crown. The first-place Lookouts improved to 30-22 with 18 games remaining and are eight games above .500 for the third time this half.
Smith capped Chattanooga's three-run first inning with a two-run home run to right field. The Lookouts added four more runs in the second inning, with Rafael Ynoa providing an RBI double to left and Wise a two-run homer to left.
Wise doubled to center to score Griff Erickson and Jake Lemmerman in the third inning, which built Chattanooga's advantage to 9-2. Suns starting pitcher Graham Taylor lasted three innings, giving up 11 hits and the nine runs.
Back-to-back homers by Kyle Jensen and Kyle Skipworth in the sixth inning chased Lookouts starting pitcher Aaron Miller from the game and enabled Jacksonville to pull within 9-6.
Though the Lookouts did not have an imposing night on the mound, Steven Ames did come in to retire all four batters he faced, including two by strikeout, to earn his 16th save. Ames also lowered his earned run average to 1.65.