Zander Wiel had quite the front-row seat Wednesday afternoon as the Chattanooga Lookouts polished off Tennessee 8-6 at AT&T Field.
Chattanooga's first baseman stepped to the plate in the seventh inning with the bases loaded, one out and the Lookouts facing a 5-4 deficit. Wiel then watched as a wild pitch by Daury Torrez enabled Tanner English to score from third and an ensuing throwing error by catcher Erick Castillo allowed LaMonte Wade to arrive home from second as the Lookouts went ahead to stay.
Brent Rooker went from first to third as the Smokies were imploding, and Wiel brought him in with a single to left field that extended Chattanooga's advantage to 7-5. Wiel came in moments later on a T.J. White double to left that capped Chattanooga's four-run seventh that ultimately was the difference in a 13th triumph in 15 opportunities for the Lookouts this month.
The Lookouts improved their overall record to 26-14 in front of a youthful crowd of 4,409 as the game was promoted as a "School Day Matinee."
Chattanooga's four-run seventh countered a three-run sixth by the Smokies that provided the guests their 5-4 advantage. The sixth-inning outburst by Tennessee was highlighted by doubles from Charcer Burks, Jeffrey Baez, Jason Vosler and Eddy Martinez.
Tennessee jumped on top 2-0 in the third inning on a two-run homer run to left by Burks, but the Lookouts answered later in the third when Wade singled to left to score Ryan Walker and English. Chattanooga took its first lead at 3-2 in the fourth inning when Brian Olson scored on a fielding error, and the Lookouts made it 4-2 in the fifth on a Rooker homer to left.
The Lookouts will open a five-game series tonight in Biloxi. The Shuckers' scheduled starting pitcher is Thomas Jankins (6-1, 3.02), with Chattanooga's scheduled starter not yet announced.