One game at a time.
One series at a time.
The Chattanooga Lookouts are attacking the dog days of summer in the most basic of ways, and it's working. Chattanooga's 6-0 win over Birmingham on Wednesday afternoon at a sauna-like AT&T Field pulled the Lookouts within one win of clinching their eighth consecutive series.
Chattanooga has won seven straight series since losing four of five games at Jackson in late May.
"That's definitely been the goal, because if you win every series, you put yourself in a good position," said Lookouts right fielder Daniel Palka, the Southern League's player of the month for June. "It's one of those things that's understood and kind of emphasized daily. At the all-star break, we felt like we were the best team hitting and pitching."
Palka singled to right field in the third inning Wednesday to score Ryan Walker to put the Lookouts up 2-0. They had taken a 1-0 lead in the second on Stuart Turner's double to center that scored Leo Reginatto.
The Lookouts (8-5) have swiped two of three from the Barons after winning three of five against both Jackson and Pensacola to open the second half. Jackson and Pensacola won their respective divisions in the first half.
"We knew we finished the first (half) well, and we know we've been playing well," Turner said. "We're just trying to keep the mojo going. Going 3-2 isn't perfect, but it's better than the other way around. The 3-2 series can add up over a 70-game half."
Winning every series 3-2 this half would result in a 42-28 record.
"Obviously winning series is a goal, but we're still looking up in the standings," Lookouts second-year manager Doug Mientkiewicz said. "Going 3-2 is good, but going 3-2 may not get us where we want to get to. Montgomery is too good, and our division is getting better."
The RBIs by Turner and Palka provided the support needed for Lookouts starting pitcher Stephen Gonsalves, who allowed just three hits in six scoreless outings but also walked five batters to go along with his five strikeouts. The No. 9 prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization according to Baseball America improved to 2-1 and lowered his earned run average to 4.91, and he has compiled 19 strikeouts in 15 Double-A innings since his June 23 promotion from Fort Myers in the high Single-A Florida State League.
"Stephen did a great job today of getting out of jams," Turner said. "He didn't let any of the innings get out of hand. He's thrown the ball well since he's been up here but has had some bad luck, but today he found a way to create his own luck and get out of those things."
Said Mientkiewicz: "He still has a high pitch count, but he's learning at this level. He's just got to learn to trust his stuff."
The Lookouts blew Wednesday's game open in the sixth inning, when they drew four walks off Birmingham relief pitcher Zack Burdi, who is the younger brother of Chattanooga reliever Nick Burdi.
Aaron Slegers (7-4, 3.41) is scheduled to start tonight's 7:15 game for the Lookouts, with David Holmberg (5-4, 3.71) scheduled for the Barons.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.