Lookouts win 3-1 before another rain-plagued crowd

The annual late-season drop in attendance has been even more profound this season for the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Chattanooga's 3-1 win over Montgomery on Saturday night was played before a crowd of 2,693 at AT&T Field. The Lookouts have drawn more than 3,000 fans just once this month - Used Car Night produced a sellout audience of 6,311 on Aug. 7 - and have seen their two lowest crowds of the season this month and five of the lowest six.

The Lookouts entered Saturday night averaging 3,276 fans per home game, their lowest since averaging 3,246 in 2010. AT&T crowds are typically smaller in August due to the heat, school resuming and the arrival of Friday night football, and this homestand with Montgomery has been plagued by rain delays.

"It got really hot around the Fourth of July, and it has stayed really hot," Lookouts president and general manager Rich Mozingo said last week.

The Lookouts never had a crowd of less than 1,800 during the first half of the season. There have been seven such crowds this half.

Ryan Eades pitched six scoreless innings for the Lookouts and struck out four batters, while T.J. White drove in two runs. White's two-out double to right field in the second inning scored Edgar Corcino to put Chattanooga up 1-0, and White made it 2-0 in the fourth when his single to center scored Travis Harrison.

The Lookouts improved to 29-25 in the second half entering this afternoon's 2:15 series finale, while the Biscuits also are 29-25. Chattanooga is 65-59 overall and Montgomery is 63-61, and whoever has the best overall record between those two will make the playoffs should Jackson add the second-half championship to its first-half title.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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