The Chattanooga Lookouts hosted "Star Wars Night" on Friday and featured drummer duo "Bucket Ruckus" on Saturday.
Almost any Lookouts game these days could be billed as a "Mystery Pitching" performance at AT&T Field.
Chattanooga starting pitcher David Hurlbut allowed six runs in four innings Sunday afternoon, and the bullpen may have been worse in a 14-13 loss to the Birmingham Barons before an announced crowd of 3,057. Chattanooga ranks ninth in the 10-member Southern League with a team ERA of 4.76; the Barons are 10th at 5.18.
"It seems like we haven't been able to get away from the big inning where we allow two or three runs," first-year Lookouts pitching coach Ivan Arteaga said. "Most of the games we have lost, we have been on the wrong side of that. Fortunately, we have some starters who have given us good efforts lately, and if we can continue those, we'll win more games than not.
"Starting pitching sets the tone, and we seem to be doing that."
On Sunday, the struggling Chattanooga pitchers overshadowed a monster showing by Lookouts designated hitter Daniel Palka, who homered, doubled twice and singled during his four-RBI afternoon. Palka's second double and fourth RBI pulled the Lookouts within 14-13 in the ninth inning, but Mitch Garver struck out swinging as the Lookouts fell to 6-12.
Palka also drew two walks, so he reached base all six times during the three-hour, 32-minute marathon.
Sunday's shaky outing by Hurlbut followed a Friday night in which starter Jason Wheeler pitched seven scoreless innings and a Saturday night in which starter D.J. Baxendale pitched six scoreless innings. Wheeler left with a 4-0 lead, and the Lookouts won by that score, but Baxendale left a scoreless game that Chattanooga lost 6-0.
Wheeler, the MVP of last September's league championship series, is 1-1 through four starts with a 1.88 ERA. Baxendale through four starts is a tough-luck 1-2 with a 2.35 ERA.
Chattanooga now has a bullpen ERA of 5.43 despite stellar beginnings to this season by J.T. Chargois and Marcus Walden. Chargois allowed his first run of the year Sunday after working five perfect innings that included nine strikeouts.
"Obviously, Chargois is doing what we expect him to do," manager Doug Mientkiewicz said. "I don't think he has a walk yet, and he looks confident. It's his second time around."
Walden, who made six Lookouts appearances and had a 1.74 ERA, was promoted by the Minnesota Twins on Sunday to Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.).
Aaron Slegers (1-1, 3.18), who gave up two runs in seven innings during a win last Wednesday in Mississippi, is scheduled to start tonight's 7:15 game for the Lookouts. David Holmberg (0-2, 3.44) is scheduled for the Barons (7-11).
"We are not trying to do more than we can do," Arteaga said. "We just want our guys to give our team a chance to win every night."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6524.