The Chattanooga Lookouts used a seven-run fourth inning to win their third consecutive Southern League baseball game Tuesday night, 8-3 over Pensacola at a muggy AT&T Field.
Shannon Wilkerson and Stuart Turner led a sizzling 13-hit attack and gave Pensacola native Brett Lee (five innings, two earned runs, three hits) his first Chattanooga pitching win after four losses. The eight Lookouts runs were scored by eight players.
After spotting the Blue Wahoos an early 3-0 lead, the Lookouts' bats came alive in the fourth against Pensacola starter and Tennessee native Daniel Wright (7-8). Turner started the rally with an RBI double, and Levi Michael followed with a triple to make it 3-2.
Wilkerson tied it with a single and, following a walk to Heiker Meneses, Max Kepler knocked in his 41st run with a single to give the Lookouts a 4-3 lead. Adam Brett Walker II walked to load the bases and Kennys Vargas cleared the bases with a single, scoring two on the hit and the third run coming home on an outfield error.
Lee, after sitting during the long rally, loaded the bases in the Pensacola fifth on a hit batter and a pair of walks. However, the 24-year-old lefty escaped trouble when Marques Smith lined to left fielder Walker.
Lee exited after the fifth and relievers Jake Reed, D.J. Johnson and J.T. Chargois combined for four innings of three-hit shutout ball to secure the win for a Chattanooga team that is now 12-17 in the second half and 55-42 overall.
D.J. Baxendale (4-2) will start tonight's 7:15 game on the mound for the Lookouts versus Pensacola and Timothy Adleman (6-8).
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.