Lookouts lose no-hitter, win 6-4

Starting pitcher Chris Reed worked three hitless innings in his Monday night debut with the Chattanooga Lookouts, and that was followed by five combined hitless innings of relief by Geison Aguasviva and Blake Johnson.

Steven Ames wasn't so dominant, though, allowing a leadoff single that broke up the no-hitter and being pulled after a 6-0 lead gave way to a 6-4 escape of Jackson before a crowd of 4,778 at AT&T Field.

"I was just trying to do what I've done all year and pound the zone, but then they got the hit, and it kind of happens like that," Ames said. "Any time you've got a no-hitter going, you don't want to be the guy to give up the hit."

The Lookouts came within three outs of their first no-hitter since Travis Buckley had one against Huntsville on June 1, 1996.

Ames had allowed just four runs in 27 innings before giving up the four against the Generals, and his earned run average of 1.32 had been tops on the team. It nearly doubled after Monday's outcome to 2.57.

"He's been dealing for us all year, and this just happened to be the game where they got him," Lookouts pitching coach Chuck Crim said. "You can't center baseballs, and he centered a few."

Reed, the No. 5 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and a first-round pick last year, struck out two and walked two. It was his 11th start since graduating high school, as the 6-foot-4, 190-pound left-hander started only once in 53 career games at Stanford.

"My first start at Stanford didn't go so well, but I pitched well in the bullpen, so I stayed there," said Reed, who was on a three-inning limit.

After being shut out Sunday, the Lookouts (29-29) racked up 13 hits. Brahiam Maldonado tripled in the second and fifth inning and drove in three runs.

Reed took the roster spot of Chris Withrow, who was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a strained lower back and could miss multiple starts. Allen Webster (1-5, 5.72 ERA) will start tonight's 7:15 game for the Lookouts, with Taylor Stanton (0-1, 20.25) scheduled for the Generals.

Upcoming Events