The Chattanooga Lookouts rarely lose consecutive games these days, so why should coming off a humbling 20-2 defeat be any different?
Chattanooga bounced back from its worst loss ever at AT&T Field with an 8-7 triumph Saturday night over the visiting Mobile BayBears. Shannon Wilkerson's two-out double to left field in the seventh inning scored Mitch Garver and Niko Goodrum and proved to be the difference before an announced crowd of 2,845.
"Today is a new day," Lookouts second baseman Levi Michael said. "I will have to say that was the first time I've ever seen a 20 on a scoreboard, which is quite an impressive feat. Obviously we were on the wrong side of that.
"It was a tough game and one we're not proud of, but you move on."
The Lookouts have lost consecutive games to the same team only once since late May.
Mitch Garver hit his ninth home run of the season, a three-run blast to left, in the first inning. That followed Zack Granite's leadoff single to right-center and Ryan Walker getting hit by a pitch. The Lookouts led 5-1 after the second, when a Dalton Hicks single to center scored Michael and Walker.
Trevor Hildenberger allowed two one-out singles in the ninth before striking out Travis Denker and Kevin Cron to pick up his 15th save for the Lookouts, who improved to 50-43 overall and 14-9 in the Southern League's second half. Chattanooga can clinch its 10th consecutive series triumph with a win today or Monday night.
Friday's massacre came at the expense of Lookouts pitchers Omar Bencomo, Ryan Eades and Luke Westphal, who combined to allow all 20 runs. Eight of the nine BayBears starters finished with multiple hits, as Mobile pounded out eight doubles and four home runs, including a Cron grand slam.
AT&T Field was built in 2000 and has housed more than 1,150 Lookouts home games.
"It doesn't get any worse," Lookouts second-year manager Doug Mientkiewicz said. "Mobile has a typical, old-school Double-A team. They've got some older guys who know how to hit, and it was an eye-opener for our guys. That was bad.
"Everything we threw up there got hit hard."
Felix Jorge (0-1, 11.81 ERA) is scheduled to start today's 2:15 game on the mound for the Lookouts, with Taylor Clarke (3-5, 3.53) scheduled for the BayBears.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.