The Chattanooga Lookouts clinched a winning April on the last day of the month.
At the rate they're playing now, the Lookouts will sew up a winning May by the end of this week.
Right fielder Edgar Corcino connects for a single, beginning a three-run, second inning early lead against the Tennessee Smokies Sunday afternoon at AT&T Field. Corcino was followed by T.J. White and Alex Perez.
Kohl Stewart winds and delivers in second inning action against the Tennessee Smokies Sunday afternoon at AT&T Field.Chattanooga has raced out to a 10-2 start this month, a record that could have been 11-1 had it not been for Sunday afternoon-turned-evening's 11-10 loss to the Tennessee Smokies in 12 innings at AT&T Field. The Lookouts were just 13-12 in April but are now 23-14 overall and lead the Southern League's North Division by 2 1/2 games over Jackson and Tennessee.
"They've been playing good baseball," first-year Lookouts manager Tommy Watkins said. "Our pitching has been really good and has been giving us a chance. We've been getting some timely hits, and it's just all started coming together these last couple of weeks or so.
"It's always fun to be on the winning side, and it definitely makes things a lot easier."
The Lookouts are playing this season amid comparisons to last year's team that shared the Southern League title - the championship series against Pensacola was not played because of the threat of Hurricane Irma - after going 91-49 in the regular season. The 91 victories set a franchise record for Chattanooga's time in the Southern League, which began in 1976.
This year's team got off to a 2-5 start but is 21-9 since.
"You go through stretches like the one we had at the start of the season, and you learn from it," Lookouts infielder Nick Gordon said. "We were able to do some great things last year, and we got it done, but you've definitely got to move on. Now we're trying to bring it this year and get that same thing going."
Said Watkins: "This team lost some games early last year and turned it on after the season got going. You just keep working, playing hard and giving it everything you've got."
Last year's Lookouts indeed had a similar script, following up a 12-13 April with a 12-3 start to May.
The makeup of this year's team contains a lot of past successes, given that the returning Lookouts from last season were part of a championship team and that those in high Single-A Fort Myers went 75-60 and reached the semifinals of the Florida State League playoffs.
"Despite the level, the way to win baseball games is going to look the same," said newcomer Brent Rooker, whose grand slam in the ninth inning Friday night led the Lookouts to a 6-2 win over Jackson at AT&T Field, "and that's by having unselfish at-bats and guys caring about other people on the team. We have winners on this team and guys who know how to get it done when it counts."
Chattanooga couldn't get it done Sunday despite having a 7-1 lead through five innings. Lookouts starting pitcher Kohl Stewart gave up five runs in the sixth, and the game went into extra innings deadlocked at 8-8.
The Smokies took an 11-10 lead in the 12th when Yasiel Balaguert scored from third base on a Sam Clay wild pitch, but the Lookouts had Alex Perez on third with one out in their half of the 12th. A Chris Paul fly ball to center was snagged by Trey Martin, who threw home to Erick Castillo in time to get Perez.
Watkins argued that Castillo was blocking the plate, but the call stood.
Chattanooga ranks second in the league in batting average, with Gordon hitting .346 in 35 games and newcomer Zander Wiel hitting .319 in 33. The Lookouts are tied for second in team ERA, with Randy LeBlanc leading the way with a 5-1 record and a 2.23 ERA in seven starts.
"The guys are having fun, and I think that's what it's all about," Watkins said. "When we get down in games, there is no panic in the dugout. We think we can score runs at any time, and that's a good feeling to have."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.