Losses have become somewhat rare in recent weeks for the Chattanooga Lookouts, and blowouts were thought to be extinct.
That changed Monday night at AT&T Field, when little went right for the hosts in a 7-2 loss to Carolina. The five-run setback was Chattanooga’s worst defeat of a solid second half and the worst since May 19, when the Lookouts fell 6-0 in Mobile.
“It was kind of one of those games where the ball went their way tonight,” Lookouts third baseman Corey Smith said. “We didn’t get the hits when we needed to get them, and they just outplayed us. The key is how you respond, and that’s what we’ve been doing a pretty good job of lately.”
The Lookouts, who are 9-5 in the Southern League’s second half after closing the first half on an 11-4 run, pulled within 3-2 in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ramon Nivar. Carolina responded with two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth, with all the damage assessed to reliever Eric Krebs.
Krebs entered with a 3.09 ERA through 24 appearances.
“They scored a four-spot off our relievers, and it’s something we haven’t seen,” Lookouts manager Carlos Subero said. “I think our bullpen had something like a 2.56 ERA in June, so I think this was just one of those games.”
RBI singles by Mike Costanzo and Dave Sappelt allowed the Mudcats to start pulling away.
Subero and his players were unaware Monday about the final results from Sunday night’s jersey auction. Shortstop Dee Gordon, the No. 1 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization according to Baseball America, had his jersey go for $150, while starting pitcher Aaron Miller, the No. 3 prospect, had his go for $140.
Yet surpassing those two was new right fielder Jerry Sands, who not only drove in five runs Sunday but had his jersey sell for $300.
“He just got here and he’s taking all the fame,” center fielder Trayvon Robinson said. “That’s good for him, though, because he’s a good player. He’s given a really big boost to our lineup.”
When told the amount his jersey fetched, Sands said, “That’s weird.”
Miller (0-1, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start tonight’s 7:15 series finale for the Lookouts, with Matt Fairel (2-3, 6.15) scheduled for the Mudcats.
Hat Night changed
The Lookouts have rescheduled their “Hat Night” giveaway from this Friday to Aug. 28, team officials announced Monday. There still will be fireworks following Friday’s game.