Packy Naughton continues to shine as a rising prospect for the Cincinnati Reds.
The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher lowered his earned run average to 2.84 for the season – between Dayton, Ohio, and Chattanooga – by allowing only one run, three hits and a walk over six innings with half a dozen strikeouts Monday night.
However, the Lookouts continue their massive second-half struggles as they fell 4-3 in 11 innings to the Tennessee Smokies in front of an announced crowd of 2,018 at AT&T Field.
Chattanooga (46-60) has lost five straight games and 20 of its last 22.
Smokies infielder Vimael Machin provided the difference with a two-run single to left field with the bases loaded in the 11th.
Jose Siri did nearly all of the offensive damage for the Lookouts as he finished with three of their five hits, which included his 10th home run of the season on the first pitch in the bottom half of the opening inning.
Naughton allowed two of his four baserunners in the first, and his only run on an Ian Rice single.
The 2017 ninth-round draft pick from Virginia Tech has had seven quality starts in his last 11 outings. In those games Naughton has allowed five earned runs in 44 1/3 innings, good for a 1.02 ERA, while giving up 25 hits and nine walks with 31 strikeouts.
The Reds’ No. 20 top prospect has allowed only six home runs in 123 2/3 innings.
The teams will return to action tonight at 7:15 p.m. for game four of a five-game series with Tony Santillan (2-8, 4.81) on the mound for Chattanooga.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.