The Chattanooga Lookouts suffered a 14-3 thumping against the Jackson Generals on Saturday night at AT&T Field, but there were at least 11 spectators who didn't seem to mind.
Saturday marked the 25th consecutive year the Lookouts have conducted their popular "Used Car Night," which encompasses all 18 seasons at AT&T Field and the last seven at Engel Stadium. Among the 11 vehicles given away were a 2007 Jeep Liberty, a 2008 Buick LaCrosse, a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta and a 2002 Toyota Camry.
The game sold out more than six hours before Saturday's first pitch, according to Lookouts general manager Rich Mozingo. That marked the earliest sellout for a Lookouts home contest since Mozingo took over the daily operations of the franchise in August 2011 so former owner Frank Burke could focus on the sale of the team.
Picture-perfect weather this weekend didn't hurt the attendance, either.
"This is one of the nicest days I can remember in the summer," Mozingo said an hour before the first pitch. "It's August 5th, and we've got this? It's unbelievable."
The Lookouts took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Max Murphy and Carlos Paulino singled to center field and Travis Harrison doubled to left. The Generals trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth on Daniel Lockhart's double to center that scored Kelly Dugan.
Jackson had the bases loaded with two out in the seventh inning when Kevin Cron's single to center scored Marty Herum and Lockhart to put the Generals ahead for the first time. Michael Perez followed with a single to right that scored Emilio Bonifacio to make it 4-2.
Jamie Westbrook's grand slam to right in the eighth inning scored Bonifacio, Cron and Perez and gave the Generals a 12-2 lead.