Chattanooga Lookouts pitcher Ethan Martin pitches the ball in this file photo.Chattanooga Lookouts starting pitcher Ethan Martin had another solid outing Sunday night at AT&T Field, but this one wasn’t rewarded.
Martin struck out seven Jacksonville hitters in six innings, but the Suns made the most of the four hits and two walks he yielded to post a 4-3 victory before a crowd of 4,361. The loss was the first this season for the 22-year-old from Toccoa, Ga., who was the first-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.
“He threw the ball very well and pretty much did what he’s done all year, but the score didn’t turn out the same,” Lookouts pitching coach Chuck Crim said. “He gave up two runs in the second inning on two miss-hit balls through the four hole, and that was really the crusher for him. I continue to be really pleased with Ethan. He’s made great strides.”
Martin became the last member of the rotation to suffer a setback, having entered Sunday with a 5-0 record. The Lookouts suffered a rare setback as well, dropping to 25-25 with just their third loss in the last 12 games.
After working a 1-2-3 first inning, Martin allowed a single to right, a walk and an RBI single to right to consecutive hitters in the second. Jeff Dominguez drove in the game’s first run, and Donnie Webb followed with a sacrifice to right to put Jacksonville up 2-0.