Apparently, one loss - and a close one at that - was enough to snap the Chattanooga Lookouts back into winning mode.
The Lookouts beat the Tennessee Smokies 6-1 in front of 4,018 at AT&T Field on Friday night, a day after the Smokies won 2-1 to end the Lookouts' winning streak at eight games.
Friday's victory was the 23rd in 26 games for the Lookouts, who won the Southern League North Division's first-half title to clinch a spot in the playoffs but have done anything but coast since that accomplishment last month.
Thursday's one-run output was Chattanooga's worst offensive performance since a 6-1 loss to Pensacola on June 26, but the bats came back around quickly Friday as Edgar Corcino and Andy Wilkins each had a two-run home run for the Lookouts, who improved to 13-2 in the second half and 55-30 overall this season.
Tennessee scored the game's first run in the second inning, when Jason Vosler doubled to lead off, advanced to third on a flyout and came home on a wild pitch by Lookouts starter Randy LeBlanc.
The Lookouts got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning in similar fashion. Jonathan Rodriguez had a leadoff single, went to third on Wilkins' double to center field and came home on a wild pitch by Smokies starter Trevor Clifton with one out.
Wilkins homered in the fourth after Rodriguez reached on a double, and Corcino made it 5-1 in the fifth when his homer also brought in Alex Perez, who was hit by a pitch. Wilkins scored the game's final run in the sixth, doubling to center with one out, then coming home on Travis Harrison's line-drive single to center with two out to chase Clifton (5-5).
LeBlanc (3-3) lowered his ERA to 4.96, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out four. Randy Rosario pitched two scoreless innings and Paul Clemens one to finish.
The final matchup of the five-game series is at 7:15 tonight. Zach Hedges (6-5, 4.06) is set to start on the mound for Tennessee, with Chattanooga's starter to be determined.