Tanner English's double to left field in the ninth inning scored Brian Navarreto and LaMonte Wade to give the Chattanooga Lookouts a 4-3 walk-off win Monday afternoon over the Tennessee Smokies at AT&T Field.
The victory before an announced crowd of 3,141 gave Chattanooga a winning April at 13-12, though this season's Lookouts have yet to resemble last year's team that racked up 91 wins.
Chattanooga Lookouts' LaMonte Wade (7) watches the Birmingham Barons' pitcher Ian Clarkin (28) as he gets his lead off first base Sunday, April 8, 2018 during the Lookouts game against the Barons at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn. "I think we're going in the right direction," Wade said. "We're starting to learn how to play with each other, and the new guys are fitting in really well. We're still positive even though we haven't had the results we've really wanted.
"We're going to keep working and keep grinding, but it's very positive right now in the clubhouse."
Chattanooga's 91 victories last year set a franchise record during its time in the Southern League, which the Lookouts joined in 1976. The Lookouts and Pensacola shared last season's league title, representing Chattanooga's second championship in three years since becoming the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
With more than half of this season's opening roster having contributed to last year's crown, the Lookouts were hoping to pick up right where they left off.
"I think we've done OK," first-year manager Tommy Watkins said. "Obviously there is always room for improvement, but it's a great group of guys, and they are fun to watch. I think we will continue to get better as the season goes on. Different guys swing it hot at different times. Nick Gordon has been swinging a hot bat, and so have LaMonte Wade and Zander Wiel.
"If we can get some of the other guys going and put it all together, I think we can be in a lot better place."
English entered Monday hitting just .078, so perhaps Monday's 2-for-4 outing and game-winner will ignite the former South Carolina standout.
Gordon and Wade returned the most experience from last season's lineup and are off to solid starts. Gordon leads Lookouts hitters with a .345 batting average, which places him among the top 10 hitters in the league.
"I think he's played pretty good," Watkins said. "We've been working on his defense at shortstop and getting him more aggressive to where he can show his arm off a little bit. When the time is right, I think they'll call him up."
The most notable April promotion occurred this past weekend, when starting pitcher Stephen Gonsalves went to Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.) after going 3-0 with a 1.77 earned run average in four starts with the Lookouts. Gonsalves made four starts in Rochester late last season after going 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA in 15 starts with Chattanooga, so his departure did not come as a surprise.
Another Lookouts starter, Zack Littell, did not taste a victory in April after going a combined 19-1 last season in high Single-A and Double-A.
"I think Zack has had some pretty good outings, but some things haven't gone his way," Watkins said. "That's been the case with a lot of our pitchers. I think our bullpen could be a little better, but I think we're in a good spot."
The top newcomer for the Lookouts so far has been Wiel, who starred at Vanderbilt and hit .316 during his first Double-A month.
Chattanooga is off today before beginning a five-game series in Mobile on Wednesday night.
"In the early part of the season, there are always going to be some teams who start off super hot, some teams who are not so hot and other teams who are kind of like where we are now," Wiel said. "We're kind of right in the middle, but I think it's too early to gauge anyone on anything in terms of who is going to be where. I know we've got a good group of guys, and I know we've got a lot talent."
Said Wade: "We've just got to keep overcoming. I think we'll be all right. I think we'll really be all right."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.