Alex Wimmers, the Minnesota Twins’ 2010 first-round pick, notched his third straight outing without surrendering an earned run as the Chattanooga Lookouts beat Jacksonville 3-2 Friday night at AT&T Field.
Improving to 5-1, Wimmers struck out 11 batters as he allowed three hits and two walks in seven innings of work and left with a 3-0 lead over the Suns, who put a scare into the Lookouts with a pair of runs in the ninth.
Wimmers pitched a three-hitter at Jacksonville on June 7, allowing no earned runs, and followed with a two-hitter over 7 2/3 innings at Birmingham, again refusing to give up an earned run.
The win was the second straight home victory for Chattanooga, which ended a six-game home losing streak on Thursday when it clinched the Southern League’s North Division first-half title with an 8-6 victory over Jacksonville. It’s the Lookouts’ first division title since 2006 and assures them of at least two home games for the playoffs.
Levi Michael and Miguel Sano had 2-for-4 nights for the Lookouts, with each scoring a run and Michael picking up an RBI along with a pair of stolen bases. Also knocking in runs for Chattanooga were Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler, who had a triple to score Sano in the seventh.
Madison Boer pitched the final two innings and was credited with a save.
The Lookouts (41-25) and the Suns (29-38) will play again at 7:15 tonight. The first 1,000 fans to arrive will receive a free Lookouts piggy bank.